Scots set up register of older peoples housing

The web-based register was set up by Bield, Trust and Hanover housing associations to cover their 11,000 properties for older people – about 40% of all such homes in Scotland.

Called the National Common Housing Register Sheltered Housing Older People, it means people only have to apply and be assessed once for housing with any of the three registered social landlords.

The landlords were given £40,000 from the Scottish executive to develop a prototype of the software.

They will invest £90,000 of their own money to create the final version and hope to sell it to councils that are creating joint housing registers with local RSLs in response to Scottish executive policy.

The three set up a joint venture company in May with IT firm Scout Solutions to deal with the business.

The RSLs had hoped to provide a national register for social housing of all types but the executive felt that people in general needs housing usually wanted to move house within a smaller area.