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Shared Ownership
What is 'Shared Ownership' and how does it work?
'Shared Ownership' is a form of Low Cost Home Ownership which is a cross between renting and owning a house. It allows the occupier to purchase a share (typically a 25% or 50% tranche) in the ownership of the property and pay a reduced rent on the remainder to a housing association. Five housing associations (HAs) in Highland provide the option of shared ownership (see below). The rent goes to the housing association and the mortgage payment to the building society, bank or other lender.
Shared ownership housing is aimed mainly at people who can’t afford to buy a house outright on the housing market, but are still keen and financially able to make a start on the home ownership ladder and invest some of their money in their property. The occupier's housing costs can vary according to the type of mortgage and the size of the ownership share (e.g. 25%, 50% etc). Shared ownership occupiers have the right to buy further 25% tranches of the equity up to and including 100% (after one year’s occupancy), which means that they then become the sole owner.
Am I eligible to apply for Shared Ownership Housing?
- Anyone can apply for shared ownership property by completing and returning a shared ownership application form (this is a separate form to the one used to apply for the association’s rented housing).
- Priority is normally given to applicants who are living in HA or Council housing because this means their house then becomes available to rent for another household in housing need.
- HAs are expected to give priority to applicants who have never owned a home before and who are seeking to step onto the home ownership ladder for the first time. However, they will also consider applicants who have previously been owner-occupiers, where the personal circumstances warrant it (e.g. significant deterioration in the applicant's financial circumstances or a relationship breakdown).
- Applicants who can afford to buy a house outright on the open market are not eligible, nor are those who could not properly afford to purchase a 25% or 50% share of the equity. The procedure HAs use for considering shared ownership applications includes a careful assessment of the applicant's financial circumstances. This requires verification from the applicant's bank or building society that he/she can truly afford and sustain all the costs.
- Some HAs also assess applications against points using systems similar to the one they use for their rented housing.
- Housing associations sometimes advertise new shared ownership housing schemes in local newspapers.
Please see Appendix G for details of shared ownership houses in Highland.
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Homestake
What is Homestake?
Homestake is a new scheme to help people on low incomes who wish to buy their home but who cannot afford to pay the full price for a house.
Housing Associations (HAs) offer new Homestake properties for sale on a “shared equity” basis. Shared equity means that the housing association will keep a financial share in the property so you do not have to fund all of it. You will pay for the majority share in the property and you will own the property outright. When you sell the house, both you and the housing association receive an amount which equals the share that is owned.
Who is Homestake for?
Homestake mainly aims to help first-time buyers, but it can help others too. For example, Homestake may be able to help you if you are looking for a new home after a significant change in your household circumstances or if you are disabled and own a house which doesn’t suit your needs.
How does Homestake work?
Grants are given to registered social landlords (such as housing associations) to help them build or buy new homes specifically for Homestake. They fund part of the price of the house and the buyer funds the rest. For instance, if you can afford a 75% share of a property, the housing association will hold the remaining 25%. You will own the property outright and will have a 75% stake in its value, whatever changes there are to the property’s value over time. The price that the Homestake property is worth on the open market is worked out by the District Valuer (an independent Government valuer).
You will pay for your share of the purchase price in the usual way, along with legal costs, survey fees and any other costs associated with the purchase including (if applicable) stamp duty. You do not pay any form of rent to the housing association. Housing associations will advertise new Homestake properties locally. If you would like to apply for a Homestake home you need to apply directly to the housing association involved in the Homestake scheme.
How do I know if I’m eligible for Homestake?
Homestake is aimed at low income households, so you will be assessed to see whether or not you qualify. The housing association will want to be satisfied that you are able to afford to be a home owner. You will need to show that you cannot buy a house suitable for your needs without Homestake help.
What percentage of a Homestake home can I take?
The stake that you take will normally be between 60% and 80% of the property price, according to the maximum mortgage you can obtain and the personal contribution you are able to make. In most circumstances you will have to take a stake of at least 60% of the price of your property. The maximum stake that you can initially take is 80%. In special circumstances, some households can take a 51% share.
In the majority of cases, you will have the option to increase your stake, after your initial purchase, up to 100%. However, in certain circumstances HAs will be allowed to keep a 20% stake in the property. This is known as a ‘golden share’. In Highland, the ‘golden share’ applies in all areas covered by Pressured area status. Housing Associations may also keep a golden share where a home has been adapted for particular housing needs and might otherwise be lost for this use in the future.
After two years, if you have a stake of less than 80 %, you can increase this stake to 80% (or more if there is no golden share). This first increase must take the stake to a minimum of 80 %. At least one year after this first increase (and again assuming that there is no golden share held by the registered social landlord) you may increase your stake once more. This increase must take your stake to 100%.
Can I reduce my stake?
It will not be possible for you to reduce the stake you own. This is important and means that you should be as confident as possible that you can meet your mortgage payments each time you increase your stake in your home.
What kind of property can I buy through Homestake?
Homestake houses will mainly be in areas where it is difficult for people on low incomes to afford to own their own home. The homes that are provided as part of the Homestake scheme are for a variety of household sizes. They are also designed to meet a range of housing needs. The home that you purchase must be your sole residence. The property will be suitable for your housing needs, although you will be able to buy a Homestake home that is a little larger than your current requirements. You will be able to purchase a property two ‘bed spaces’ more than the number of people in your household. For example, a couple would be eligible to buy a house with two double bedrooms, or a double and two single bedrooms.
What responsibilities does a Homestake owner have?
When you buy through Homestake you own the property outright. You will have full title to the property and you will not pay any form of rent to the housing association. Like other home owners you will be responsible for all maintenance, insurance and repair costs, as well as making your mortgage repayments and paying your Council Tax. You are responsible for keeping your property in a good state of repair. For example, if the property has common and shared areas you will be responsible for paying any common maintenance or service charges. You will need to take these costs into account when assessing whether you can afford to buy a Homestake property.
Further information on your obligations as a Homestake owner will be available from participating housing associations.
What happens when I want to sell my Homestake property?
If you, for example, have an 80% stake in your property when you want to move, then you will get 80% of the selling price when it is sold. The registered social landlord will receive the remaining 20%. The percentage you get is not affected by changes in the value of your property over time. In this example, if the value of your house increases, you will benefit from 80% of the increase. The other 20% of the increase will go to the housing association. They do not make a profit. Any surpluses go towards providing more affordable housing.
How do I find out more, or apply for a Homestake home?
Housing associations will have more information on the legal requirements of Homestake. However, you are also strongly advised to take independent financial and legal advice before agreeing to participate in the scheme.
If you are interested in finding out more about the scheme or you see a Homestake property advertised which you think you might be eligible for, contact the housing association responsible for the scheme. They will be able to give you further information on the scheme including how to apply.
More Information
Homestake houses are being built right across the Highlands including: Carrbridge, Kingussie, Thurso, Inverness, Fort William, Alness, Dingwall and Strathpeffer.
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Rural Home Ownership Grants (RHOGs)
What are RHOGs and who provides them?
Rural Home Ownership Grants, or RHOGs as they are often called, are intended to help people living in rural areas of Scotland. They are primarily for local people on low or modest incomes who seek to own their own home. Grants are primarily aimed at local people in employment who are first time buyers. If you have previously owned your own home you may still be eligible if you meet the other qualifying criteria. The RHOG is meant to fill the gap between the cost of providing a modest starter home for the applicant and the amount the applicant can pay by the way of a mortgage and savings.
This grant is an extremely valuable tool in improving access to home ownership in rural areas where house prices can be greater than the resources available to first time buyers or those on lower incomes.
The Communities Scotland regional office in Inverness administers the grants but they have agents (usually housing associations) that deal with any enquiries and applications for specific areas.
The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust often have a role in providing house plots which RHOG applicants can build on.
How many RHOGs have been provided in the Highlands?
RHOGs were introduced in 1991 and since then there have been around 900 grants approvals in Scotland including 300 in the Highlands (up to October 2005). Since 1 January 2000:
- Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association has provided 58 RHOGs
- Lochaber Housing Association has provided 39 RHOGs
- Albyn Housing Society has provided 22 RHOGs
- Pentland Housing Association has provided 44 RHOGs
Who is eligible for RHOG’s and how do you apply?
Successful applicants must either:
- Be employed or have received a formal offer of employment in the local area where they want to set up home
- Be a pensioner or are unfit for work due to illness or disability
- Have resided in the local area for more than a year, have a family or local connection and can meet the majority of the costs involved
- Prove that they could not afford to become a homeowner without a RHOG due to insufficient funding
Grants are not available:
- If you are eligible for the Scottish Executive’s Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS)
- If you already benefit from another form of grant from Communities Scotland or similar local authority
- If you intend buying a house built by a developer who has already received a grant towards the cost of providing that house.
What type of costs are covered?
- Acquiring a house or a site
- Building Warrant and Planning applications
- Construction
- Installation of services, e.g. electricity, water
- Architects and other consultancy fees
- Legal fees
- Mortgage bridging interest
Other key grant conditions include:
- Restricted house sizes, depending on the size of the RHOG applicant’s household the house will be restricted (although houses can be designed and constructed to permit additional rooms to be built in uture years in the roof spaces).
- Restricted building costs, each area has target costs for building a property that applicants should attempt to stay within.
- A 10-year ‘clawback’ period on the grant. If the applicant sells the house within that period of time Communities Scotland will require the grant be paid back.
How much grant is a RHOG applicant in the Highlands likely to get?
RHOGs vary on a project-by-project basis with applicants having been awarded grants between £3,000 and £36,000. The grant, will generally account for up to 30% of the total project costs.
A leaflet on RHOG eligibility and the application process is available from Communities Scotland or the housing association agents (see end of chapter).
What is involved in building a house?
See below for more information on house building.
Contact Information
For RHOG contacts, see the end of this chapter.
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Highland Small Communities Housing Trust - Buying a House Plot
This section covers buying a house plot from the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust. They buy land on behalf of rural Highland communities for:
- serviced plots, sold at discounted prices, to people with a local connection who are finding it difficult or impossible to find an affordable site (especially people who are also able to receive a Rural Home Ownership Grant (RHOG)
- rented housing, to be built by the local Housing Association.
Who is eligible?
Trust plots are sold to people who have been assessed as being RHOG-eligible and who are then offered a RHOG by Communities Scotland. They are generally only offered to people who have a clearly established residential, family or workplace connection with the Community Council area. Plots are sold, with services, at discounted prices (i.e. less than the open market price).
The Trust includes a pre-emption right, with conditions attached, in the title to every plot it sells. This gives the Trust the legal right and discretion to buy back the plot, the house and other permanent structures built on it, whenever the owner decides to sell, or transfer ownership of the property.
The conditions are designed to restrict the buy-back price so that the house will be affordable to the next purchaser. The conditions also protect the plot purchaser’s capital investment to allow for a modest return on the money and effort invested in putting the house on the site. The purpose is to protect the long-term interest of the community, by making sure that the houses built on the plots will remain affordable for people with a local connection when they are sold.
It is very important that anyone who is interested in buying a plot from the Trust (or, in due course, the house built on the plot) understands the pre-emption right and conditions. You are strongly advised to get your Solicitor’s advice on the implications before making any decision on whether you would like to buy a plot or a house from the Trust.
The Trust has received assurances from the Royal Bank of Scotland that they have no problems in making a normal mortgage available to a RHOG approved applicant purchasing one of the Trust’s RHOG plots with the pre-emption rights and conditions attached. Other lenders may also provide mortgages.
How do I apply?
- Contact The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust to register your interest in buying a plot on a specific site and get an application from them.
- Make sure you understand and are prepared to agree to the Trust’s pre-emption right and conditions.
- Once you have completed and returned the application form, The Trust will then assess it using its House Plot Allocation Policy.
- At the same time, get advice from the Trust as to whether you are also eligible to receive a Rural Home Ownership Grant (RHOG).
- Once the Trust has approved your application your first stage RHOG application, the Trust will send you a provisional offer to purchase.
- If you accept the provisional offer, you will be sent a formal offer by the Trust’s Solicitor, which you should discuss with your own Solicitor. If you then accept this, you will have secured a legally binding contract to purchase the plot from the Trust.
- At that stage, you will need to proceed with or complete the 2nd stage of your RHOG application.
- The contract to purchase concludes once Communities Scotland has officially notified the Trust that they have awarded you a RHOG grant.
More detailed information is available in a booklet from The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust and from the Trusts Information Officer (tel. 01463 233549).
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Grants for Owner Occupation
What are GRO Grants and who provides them?
Communities Scotland has a grant, known as the GRO-Grant (Grant for Owner Occupation). This is available to private housing suppliers and housing trusts (not registered Housing Associations), which contributes towards the costs of providing houses for owner occupation. The housing for sale may be provided through new build or following renovation of existing buildings. GRO Grants are targeted at 3 types of project:
Types 1 & 2
Projects contributing to tenure diversification in regeneration areas, e.g. by providing a mix of rented and owner occupied housing in communities with a limited supply of owner occupied housing.
Type 3
Projects contributing to the provision of housing for owner occupation at affordable prices in pressured markets areas (usually in rural locations) where the supply of such housing is limited in quantity, or where access for lower income households wishing to become owner occupiers is constrained by market forces.
The scheme makes the minimum grants necessary to private developers to meet the difference between the costs of production of the social housing and the sales value of the houses. Grants are calculated to cover the gap between the defined eligible costs of providing the planned housing and the sales value of the houses on completion. Depending on the type of project, completed houses are either sold at market value or below. GRO Grants can cover up to 40% of the total project costs, although they are limited to 20% of the market value of the property. For example, if a property is valued on the open market at £120,000, the developer gets a maximum grant of £24,000, so they can offer the property for sale to the targeted client group. Each project is appraised by Communities Scotland on its own merits.
Who is eligible?
The grants may be conditional on priority being given to Council or housing association tenants or those on their waiting lists, those on low income and first time buyers.
Where can I get more information?
Completed properties are generally advertised for sale by the developer, but information may also be available from the Communities Scotland Area Office. Under current rules, purchasers normally have to repay the grant if they resell the house within 10 years of purchase.
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Low Cost Home Ownership Contacts
For information on Homestake, Shared Ownership or RHOGs please contact the housing association which covers the Area you are interested in. Please note that some areas are covered by more than one housing association.
Albyn Housing Society Ltd
98-100 High Street
INVERGORDON IV18 0EL
Tel: (01349) 852978
E-mail: office@albynhousing.org.uk
- Badenoch & Strathspey
- Caithness
- Nairn
- Inverness
- Ross and Cromarty
- Sutherland
Lochaber Housing Association
30 Fassifern Road
FORT WILLIAM PH33 6XQ
Tel: (01397) 702530
E-mail: info@lochaberhousing.co.uk
Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association
Morrison House
Bayfield
PORTREE
Isle of Skye IV51 9EW
Tel: (01478) 612035
Email: info@LSHA.co.uk
Pentland Housing Association
37/39 Traill Street
THURSO
Caithness KW14 8EG
Tel: (01847) 892507
E-mail: pha@pentlandhousing.co.uk
Cairn Housing Association Ltd
Cairn House
30 Waterloo Place
INVERNESS IV1 1NB
Tel: (01463) 220666
E-mail: info@cairnha.com
- Badenoch & Strathspey
- Caithness
- Inverness
- Nairn
Link Housing Association
45 Albany Street
EDINBURGH EH1 3QY
Tel: 0131 557 0350
E-mail: linkgroup@linkhaltd.co.uk
The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT) can give you information and advice about RHOGs and buying house plots.
The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust
5 Ardross Terrace
Inverness IV3 5NQ
Telephone: (01463) 233549
E-mail: kate.dunbar@hscht.co.uk or dialexander.hscht@btinternet.com
Communities Scotland can provide more information on all the low cost homeownership mechanisms. Their address is:
Communities Scotland Highlands & Islands Area Office
Urquhart House
Beechwood Business Park
Inverness
IV2 3BW
Tel: (01463) 711272
Fax: (01463) 711301
Web site: www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
The Highland Council produces a regular news report that highlights recent affordable housing developments and on-going affordable housing projects in the Highlands. This can be seen on the Highland Council’s website under Affordable Housing Development
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Owner Occupation - Buying or Building a House
Owner-occupation is the most common tenure in the Highlands. At the time of the census in 2001, two-thirds (66%) of households owned or were buying their house with a mortgage. This is proportionally greater than in Scotland overall (63%). In the rural areas of the Highlands, the percentage of households who own their home is even higher compared with other tenures.
House prices have been rising in recent years. The increases vary across the different parts of Highland as do average prices. The highest price rises have been in Skye and Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty and Inverness. Prices are also high in Badenoch and Strathspey and Nairn. Caithness has the lowest average house prices. House prices are also lower in Sutherland and East Ross.
Inverness has the highest number of sales in the Highlands. This is not surprising given that most of the population live there. There has also been a significant amount of new house build activity there.
Speculative house-building by developers outside of the Inverness housing market area is low. This means that to get a new house many people contract building firms to build a home for them (self-procurement) or organise the house building process themselves (self-build).
House Prices and Local Variations
This table shows some of the price variations across Highland in 2004. Average prices also vary within communities. For example, house prices in Lochaber are generally higher outside of Fort William.
Below is information on the number of houses sold in the Areas of The Highland Council in 2004 and the median price (the price which 50% of sales fall either above or below)
-
Badenoch & Strathspey: number sold - 300; median price - £119,950
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Caithness: number sold - 40; median price - £69,500
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Inverness: number sold - 1696; median price - £103,625
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Lochaber: number sold - 294; median price - £102,148
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Nairn: number sold - 276; median price - £115,000
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Easter Ross and Black Isle: number sold - 737; median price - £105,000
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Skye & Lochalsh: number sold - 818; median price - £123,000
-
Sutherland: number sold - 238; median price - £87,500
-
Wester Ross: number sold - 81; median price - £106,106
Sasine information from Planning and Development Services. Table excludes RTB, Shared Ownership and Transfers.
Where to Get Information on Houses for Sale
In the Highlands the majority of houses are sold through estate agents or local solicitors. However, many people also sell their houses privately. Contacts for local solicitors and estate agents can be found in the ‘Yellow Pages’ Directory. Properties for sale are often advertised through the local papers. Houses are increasingly being advertised on property sites through the internet.
Local Papers in the Highlands Advertising Housing for Sale
Highland-wide The Press and Journal
Badenoch and Strathspey - The Strathspey & Badenoch Herald
Caithness - The John O’Groats Journal; The Caithness Courier
Inverness - The Inverness Courier; The Highland News
Lochaber - The Lochaber News; The Oban Times
Nairn - The Nairnshire Telegraph
Ross & Cromarty - The Ross-shire Journal; The North Star
Skye & Lochalsh - The West Highland Free Press
Sutherland - The Northern Times
The Highland Solicitors Property Centre advertises many properties in the Highlands. They regularly publish a free newspaper which gives information on houses for sale. They also have a web-site. They can be contacted at:
Highland Solicitors Property Centre (HSPC), 30 Queensgate, Inverness, IV1 1DJ
Tel: (01463) 231173
See "External Links" for other websites which advertise properties for sale in the Highlands:
The Home Buying Process
How do I go about buying a house?
Once you have decided to buy, the home-buying process involves:
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shopping around for a mortgage lender
-
working out how much you can afford to spend
-
looking at properties within your price range
-
once you have found a property you want, appointing a solicitor
-
formally applying for your mortgage
-
receiving an 'offer of advance'
-
making an offer
-
having the offer accepted (at which point a contract is passed between you and the person selling the property)
-
finalising the legal arrangements for you to become the owner
moving in
How do I get a Mortgage?
It is important to shop around when deciding who to get a mortgage from. To do this, it is necessary to consult with different lenders, e.g. banks, building societies and mortgage brokers to find out the amount they will lend and offers available. Although lenders differ in the amount they will lend, in general they will offer 3 x a buyer’s salary or 2.5 times their joint income.
If mortgage payments on a home are not kept up to date and the mortgage falls into arrears there is a danger of losing the home. The home may be repossessed by the mortgage company.
What about valuing the property?
The lender will arrange for a qualified valuer to inspect the property to check its value. The potential buyer will usually have to pay for the valuation even if they do not go on to buy the property. However, some lenders do not charge for valuations.
The valuation is carried out to help the lender decide whether to lend the potential buyer a mortgage and how much based on the property they want to buy. It is not a full survey and will not go into much detail about repairs and maintenance that may be needed.
It can be expensive to carry out necessary repair and improvement work to property. It is a good idea to find out about any repair and maintenance work the property needs before buying. A full survey will give this information.
How will I know how much to offer?
Most sellers ask for offers over a certain amount. The solicitor will advise the potential buyer on how much to offer. Whether an offer is accepted will depend on what other offer, if any, the seller has had. If the offer is accepted, the buyer and seller will go ahead with the deal.
Useful Information
HomePointer 45: Buying a Home in Scotland
HomePoint has produced a booklet which helps homebuyers find their way through the home-buying and mortgage maze. It aims to help first-time buyers understand the legal steps and practical considerations involved in buying a home in Scotland. It can be downloaded from External Links - Homepoint 45
Alternatively, copies are available free from Homepoint - phone 0131 313 0044 or order by email.
Thinking About Buying - A Guide to House Purchase in Scotland
Another very useful short booklet, 'Thinking About Buying', is available free from Scottish Executive. The booklet lists all the questions the buyer needs to ask at each stage in the purchase process, with helpful advice. It can be downloaded through the link "Thinking About Buying" under "External Links"
Alternatively phone the Scottish Executive on 0131 244 2105 for a free copy.
How do I find a site?
Local knowledge is a considerable asset in finding and purchasing suitable sites on which to build. These will be advertised in local newspapers, the Solicitors’ Property Centre, estate agents, solicitors and possibly in the Council itself. Some will have outline planning consent for housing, some will be serviced with water, electricity and gas and some will have neither planning consent nor services. Do not purchase until, at the very least, outline planning consent for housing has been obtained.
You should inspect the planning permission as conditions imposed on it may restrict your options (e.g. restrictions on the type or size of housing you can build) or influence your budget (e.g. whether traditional design features are required). The planning permission is available from the selling agent or the Area Planning Office.
The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust buy land on behalf of rural Highland communities for serviced plots. These are sold at discounted prices, for Rural Home Ownership Grant (RHOG) applicants to build their own homes. See the paragraph on the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust for more information.
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SelfBuild
Where will I get good, professional advice on self-building?
Anyone wanting to build a house has to overcome a number of bureaucratic requirements before they are allowed to proceed to the bricks and mortar building stage. Even before a potential house site has been identified, but if not as soon as possible afterwards, professional architectural advice should be sought about the following essentials:
Planning Regulations and Procedures
Planning officials are more than happy to help anyone who is thinking of building a house, giving specific advice on the requirements of the planning system and more general advice on other aspects of the building process. They have lots of experience which they would like to share as early as possible. This will help the potential house-builder avoid some of the pitfalls and delays that can arise due to lack of knowledge concerning planning consent.
Contact your local Area Planning and Development office for local Planning or Building Standards guidance or for Planning Applications and Building Warrants.
The planning officials will explain the Council's policies on the position, design and location of any new house to be built in its area. They will advise on the requirements for drainage from the house site, road access and water supplies. They will provide assistance with, as well as advice on, preparing applications for outline and/or full planning permission and for a building warrant.
More information and guidance, as well as blank Planning Application forms and Building Warrants, are available on The Highland Council’s website through this link - Forms and Guidance
Information is also available at Service Point and Area Planning and Development Services Council Offices. Contact details are set out below.
There are also a number of information leaflets available from the Highland Council’s Planning & Development Services including:
Leaflet 1 - How to contact us
Leaflet 2 - The planning application process
Leaflet 3 - The building control process
Leaflet 4 - A guide to fees
Leaflet 5 - How do I comment on a planning application?
Leaflet 6 - Enforcement action
Leaflet 7 - How to appeal
Leaflet 8 - Planning applications and contaminated land
Where will I get legal advice?
Good legal advice from a qualified solicitor should also be sought at an early stage, particularly by those who have not yet acquired legal title to the house site.
How do I go about designing my house?
Both the planning office and local solicitors can provide names and addresses of house designers, architects and building contractors. The Yellow Pages Directory also gives names of the manufacturers and suppliers of ‘kit houses’. Some building contractors and all kit suppliers also provide a choice of house designs which, if suitable, may avoid or reduce the requirement to employ an architect. On the other hand an experienced architect will also greatly reduce the amount of time and effort that would otherwise be spent by the client on overcoming some or all of the hurdles involved in building a new house.
Who can I contact for more information?
Badenoch & Strathspey
Planning & Building Standards Manager
100 High Street
KINGUSSIE
Inverness-shire PH21 1HY
Tel: (01540) 661700
Fax: (01540) 661001
e-mail:
planning.badenochandstrathspey@highland.gov.uk
Caithness
Planning & Building Standards Manager
Market Square, High Street
WICK
Caithness KW1 4AB
Tel: (01955) 607757
Fax: (01955) 606924
e-mail:
planning.caithness@highland.gov.uk
Inverness
Planning & Building Standards Manager
1 - 3 Church Street
INVERNESS IV1 1DY
Tel: (01463) 720601
Fax: (01463) 711332
e-mail:
planning.inverness@highland.gov.uk
Lochaber
Planning & Building Standards Manager
Fulton House, Gordon Square
FORT WILLIAM
Inverness-shire PH33 6XY
Tel: (01397) 707016
Fax: (01397) 707022
e-mail:
planning.lochaber@highland.gov.uk
Nairn
Planning & Building Standards Manager
88 High Street
NAIRN IV12 4AU
Tel: (01667) 452757
Fax: (01667) 452936
e-mail:
planning.nairn@highland.gov.uk
Ross & Cromarty
Planning & Building Standards Manager
2 Achany Road
DINGWALL
Ross-shire IV15 9JB
Tel: (01349) 864991
Fax: (01349) 864675
e-mail:
planning.rossandcromarty@highland.gov.uk
Skye & Lochalsh
Planning & Building Standards Manager
Kings House, The Green
PORTREE
Isle of Skye IV51 9BS
Tel: (01478) 612412
Fax: (01478) 613518
e-mail:
planning.skyeandlochalsh@highland.gov.uk
Sutherland
Planning & Building Standards Manager
The Meadows
DORNOCH
Sutherland IV25 3SG
Tel: (01862) 812041
Fax: (01862) 810979
e-mail:
planning.sutherland@highland.gov.uk
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Buying Sheltered or Retirement Housing
Sheltered or retirement housing is a development of purpose-built homes with certain amenities. A development could be a block or blocks of flats, or could consist of individual or linked bungalows. Some developments contain both.
Amenities could include communal facilities such as a lounge, laundry and guest bedroom(s). In most developments there will be an emergency alarm system and or the services of a warden who may or may not be resident. The warden may be given a different name, such as social or residents' secretary. The main duties of a warden are to act as a good neighbour, to summon help in an emergency and to ensure that the common areas are looked after. Provision will be made for the cleaning, maintenance and insurance of the communal parts. All the services and amenities will be paid for by a service charge.
INNIS is a housing advice service provided by Age Concern and funded by the Scottish Executive. INNIS offers free independent advice and information to older people on all private sheltered and retirement housing issues in Scotland.
You can contact INNIS on 0845 833 0250 (during office hours of 2.00 – 4.30pm on Mondays and 9.30am – 1.00pm on Tuesdays) or by writing to:
INNIS
Age Concern Scotland
Causeway House
160 Causewayside
EDINBURGH EH9 1PR
E-mail: innis@acscot.org.uk
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