Deveron Court, Turriff

We recognise the concern around the current situation with Sheltered Housing. It’s true that the service has not been operating on a full cost recovery basis for several years, which is why a review began in 2018.

Since then, the cost of essential capital upgrades has risen significantly, and demand for traditional sheltered housing has declined—particularly since the pandemic. These factors, combined with long-standing financial pressures, have brought us to a critical point.

This situation has not developed overnight, but the scale of the challenge now requires difficult decisions. We understand the distress this causes and want to reassure residents that no decisions are made lightly. Our focus remains on supporting tenants and exploring all viable options to deliver a sustainable, modern service that meets changing needs.

Thank you for your question regarding future investment in this scheme.

As part of our strategic review, we have assessed all sheltered housing schemes across Aberdeenshire using a consistent set of criteria to ensure a fair and transparent analysis. This includes identifying the upgrades required to bring each scheme up to modern building and safety standards.

For this scheme, the following upgrades have been identified as necessary:

Lift replacement or installation

Sprinkler system installation

Heating system upgrades

Fire alarm system replacement

Lighting system improvements

These upgrades are classes as essential to ensure the building meets current safety regulations and provides a safe, comfortable environment for tenants. The same categories of investment have been considered for all schemes to ensure a fair comparison.

All financial information relating to schemes has already been published and this can be accessed via the main Reshaping Sheltered Housing page.

Thank you for your question regarding occupancy levels at the scheme.

The Overall occupancy rates at Deveron Court averaged 95.9% over 10 years, which is well above the Aberdeenshire average.

To maximise interest and ensure properties are let as efficiently as possible, we follow a multi-step approach:

1. Advertising through Choice-Based Lettings (CBL): All available properties are first advertised on the CBL portal, where applicants can express interest by placing a bid. 
2. Direct Contact with Applicants: If a property receives no bids, our allocations team proactively contacts individuals on the housing waiting list to offer the opportunity directly.
3. Local Promotion: We also promote available properties locally through posters in community spaces and, in some areas, by working in partnership with local community councils to raise awareness and support the allocation process.

These combined efforts aim to ensure that properties are matched with suitable tenants as quickly as possible, while also supporting local housing needs.

While it may appear that there is a significant demand for Sheltered Housing, as indicated by the approximate 500 applicants on the waiting list, this figure does not necessarily reflect a true or immediate readiness to move. Many applicants register their interest in Sheltered Housing as a precautionary measure or for future planning, rather than with the intention of moving imminently.

Additionally, not all applicants are open to relocating to any available property. Preferences regarding location, proximity to family or services, and the specific features of a property can significantly influence whether an individual accepts an offer. As a result, even when vacancies arise, they may not align with the needs or desires of those on the list.

This mismatch between available properties and applicant preferences contributes to the situation where some Sheltered Housing schemes are low demand and therefore not fully occupied.

We recognise the concerns raised with closing up to 17 schemes, at the same time while demand in Turriff remains relatively high, Deveron Court faces significant challenges, including the need for a costly lift replacement and other infrastructure upgrades. These factors, when considered alongside the other four criteria, informed our difficult decision.

We remain committed to supporting older residents in Turriff, with the other Sheltered Housing scheme and will continue to explore alternative housing options that meet their needs.

There is a significant investment required with the main schemes, in relation to sprinkler systems, upgrading lifts, emergency lighting, in addition to windows, door entry systems, warden call systems.  Average predicted capital per property is approx £200k per unit at Deveron Court (over 30 years, and before inflation).