FOI Request - Social Housing and Homelessness Data

Request 101004035126

Please provide the following information:

1. The total number of social housing properties to which the Council has nomination rights, or that are managed by the Council, as of 26 July 2026. Please provide a breakdown of this figure by the number of bedrooms (e.g., studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, etc.).

2. Over the last 12 months (from 26 July 2025 to 26 July 2026), what was the average waiting time for homeless applicants with a priority need to be offered permanent two-bedroom social housing within the Council's area?

3. In the last 12 months (from 26 July 2025 to 26 July 2026, how many homeless applicants has the Council placed in accommodation outside of the borough (out-of-borough placements) for permanent housing?

4. For the out-of-borough placements mentioned in the previous point, please list the top five local authority areas (councils) to which applicants were most frequently relocated during the last 12 months.

Response 24-08-2026

  1. As at 26 July 2026, the Council managed 6,466 properties, broken down as follows:

     

    Property Size:

    Bedsit

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    Grand Total

    No. of properties

    47

    1837

    2963

    1429

    172

    15

    1

    2

    6466

    Please note that this includes properties reserved for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households and properties which have been leased out (e.g. to organisations which provide support services).  

     

    The Council also works in partnership with Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations) through nomination agreements.  We are not in a position to provide the total number of RSL properties to which the Council may have nomination rights, as those properties are owned and managed by the respective RSLs who are also subject to freedom of information legislation and may be contacted directly.  A list of RSLs operating in Moray is available in our Housing Options Guide 2.

    However, we can provide the number of properties for which the Council had been invited to make nominations for as at 26 July 2026:

     

    Property Size:

    1

    2

    3

    Grand Total

    No. of properties available for nomination

    3

    2

    1

    6

  2. Exempt – Section 17 FOISA - information not held. 

    Scotland does not operate a priority need test within its homelessness legislation.  The priority need test was abolished through provisions in the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003, fully implemented from 31 December 2012. 

    Accordingly, we do not hold information on homeless applicants with a priority need and are therefore unable to provide the information requested.   

  3. None

  4. Not applicable