Reshaping Sheltered Housing

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What is Sheltered Housing?

Sheltered Housing allows older people or people with particular needs to live independently, in a comfortable and secure environment. It promotes opportunities for social contact and companionship, with shared communal space available for all to use, while respecting an individual’s right to privacy.

Security and peace of mind are offered through an alarm system and a dedicated team of Sheltered Housing Officers.

The accommodation typically consists of a self-contained, one-bedroom flat within a main scheme or a one-bedroom cottage.

Why is Aberdeenshire Council Housing department undertaking a review of its Sheltered Housing?

The purpose of this review is to assess whether the current and future needs of Sheltered Housing are being met and to provide recommendations for its future model. The review will focus on ensuring that Sheltered Housing continues to meet the needs of both current and future tenants while remaining affordable.

All 56 Sheltered Housing schemes in Aberdeenshire were built between 1972 and 1999. At the time of construction, a live-in warden was employed to provide essential support and services to residents. Over the years, funding for these services has been reduced, and tenants are now responsible for covering the costs of services they receive. This includes the maintenance of internal infrastructure such as lifts, sprinkler systems, fixtures and fittings in communal areas, the warden call systems, and on-site staff support.

What are the main challenges facing the future of Sheltered Housing?

Several challenges affect Sheltered Housing:

  • Funding: The primary funding for Sheltered Housing services comes from tenants' rents and service charges, with no additional subsidies from other council budgets.

  • Changing Housing Options: People’s housing preferences are shifting, with increased support for staying at home longer, aided by grants for adaptations and care services available to individuals in their homes.

  • New Standards and Duties: The Scottish Government has introduced new standards for Social Housing Landlords (e.g., Energy Efficiency), but there is a significant shortfall between the financial support available to help meet these requirements and the actual cost of doing so.

  • Decreased Demand: Demand for Sheltered Housing has declined, making it more difficult to find tenants to rent properties in certain areas. This reduces the service’s income, meaning other tenants must cover the costs.

  • Financial Impact: We estimate that Sheltered Housing currently costs other tenants around £2 million annually to maintain.

  • Value for Money: The Housing Service has a legal duty to ensure value for money for all tenants.

What is the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) ?

The HRA is designed to ensure that rent paid by council tenants is used solely to manage and maintain council housing stock — not for other council services. It keeps housing finances separate from the general council budgets.

The HRA is ring-fenced, meaning the money in it must only be used for council housing — not for roads, schools, or other unrelated services. This ensures transparency and fairness for all tenants.

What goes into the HRA? HRA Income sources include:

  • Rent from all council housing tenants
  • Service charges from sheltered housing tenants (e.g., for communal heating, alarm systems, on site staffing)
  • Building charges from sheltered housing tenants (for services or repairs)
  • Government grants (occasionally)

What comes out of the HRA?

Expenditure includes:

  • Maintenance and repairs of housing
  • Major improvements or refurbishments
  • Housing management costs (staff, admin)
  • Repayment of housing-related debt
  • Building new council homes

As part of the Housing Revenue Account business plan this outlines the long-term delivery of sheltered housing provision over the next 30 years, with significant investment to modernise complexes and meet the changing needs of our tenants.

Aberdeenshire Sheltered Housing complexes are funded solely by tenants, and our new strategy will aim to provide a modern, sustainable service that offers best value. If no changes are made, the sheltered housing service faces a loss of £135 milllion over the next 30 years.

Tenants personalised assistance package

Once a sheltered housing scheme has been approved for closure by Committee and a closure schedule has been agreed with tenants, a dedicated member of staff will be assigned to each household. They will provide a personalised package of support to tenants, offering both practical and financial assistance throughout the moving process.

This support will include:

  • A removal package, including help with packing and unpacking

  • Provision of new floor coverings

  • Provision of new window coverings

  • A Home Loss Payment and Disturbance Payment (as set by the Scottish Government), totalling £2,570 per household

A person-centred approach will be adopted to ensure that suitable alternative accommodation is identified to best meet each individual's needs. This may include properties within the Council’s own housing stock or those offered by other housing providers, depending on the tenant’s preference.

This process will take place over several months—and in some cases, years—ensuring tenants have sufficient time for thoughtful planning and tailored support.

Details about information gathered from tenants meetings and community drop-in sessions across various locations will be shared here soon. Keep an eye on this page for further details.

What is Sheltered Housing?

Sheltered Housing allows older people or people with particular needs to live independently, in a comfortable and secure environment. It promotes opportunities for social contact and companionship, with shared communal space available for all to use, while respecting an individual’s right to privacy.

Security and peace of mind are offered through an alarm system and a dedicated team of Sheltered Housing Officers.

The accommodation typically consists of a self-contained, one-bedroom flat within a main scheme or a one-bedroom cottage.

Why is Aberdeenshire Council Housing department undertaking a review of its Sheltered Housing?

The purpose of this review is to assess whether the current and future needs of Sheltered Housing are being met and to provide recommendations for its future model. The review will focus on ensuring that Sheltered Housing continues to meet the needs of both current and future tenants while remaining affordable.

All 56 Sheltered Housing schemes in Aberdeenshire were built between 1972 and 1999. At the time of construction, a live-in warden was employed to provide essential support and services to residents. Over the years, funding for these services has been reduced, and tenants are now responsible for covering the costs of services they receive. This includes the maintenance of internal infrastructure such as lifts, sprinkler systems, fixtures and fittings in communal areas, the warden call systems, and on-site staff support.

What are the main challenges facing the future of Sheltered Housing?

Several challenges affect Sheltered Housing:

  • Funding: The primary funding for Sheltered Housing services comes from tenants' rents and service charges, with no additional subsidies from other council budgets.

  • Changing Housing Options: People’s housing preferences are shifting, with increased support for staying at home longer, aided by grants for adaptations and care services available to individuals in their homes.

  • New Standards and Duties: The Scottish Government has introduced new standards for Social Housing Landlords (e.g., Energy Efficiency), but there is a significant shortfall between the financial support available to help meet these requirements and the actual cost of doing so.

  • Decreased Demand: Demand for Sheltered Housing has declined, making it more difficult to find tenants to rent properties in certain areas. This reduces the service’s income, meaning other tenants must cover the costs.

  • Financial Impact: We estimate that Sheltered Housing currently costs other tenants around £2 million annually to maintain.

  • Value for Money: The Housing Service has a legal duty to ensure value for money for all tenants.

What is the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) ?

The HRA is designed to ensure that rent paid by council tenants is used solely to manage and maintain council housing stock — not for other council services. It keeps housing finances separate from the general council budgets.

The HRA is ring-fenced, meaning the money in it must only be used for council housing — not for roads, schools, or other unrelated services. This ensures transparency and fairness for all tenants.

What goes into the HRA? HRA Income sources include:

  • Rent from all council housing tenants
  • Service charges from sheltered housing tenants (e.g., for communal heating, alarm systems, on site staffing)
  • Building charges from sheltered housing tenants (for services or repairs)
  • Government grants (occasionally)

What comes out of the HRA?

Expenditure includes:

  • Maintenance and repairs of housing
  • Major improvements or refurbishments
  • Housing management costs (staff, admin)
  • Repayment of housing-related debt
  • Building new council homes

As part of the Housing Revenue Account business plan this outlines the long-term delivery of sheltered housing provision over the next 30 years, with significant investment to modernise complexes and meet the changing needs of our tenants.

Aberdeenshire Sheltered Housing complexes are funded solely by tenants, and our new strategy will aim to provide a modern, sustainable service that offers best value. If no changes are made, the sheltered housing service faces a loss of £135 milllion over the next 30 years.

Tenants personalised assistance package

Once a sheltered housing scheme has been approved for closure by Committee and a closure schedule has been agreed with tenants, a dedicated member of staff will be assigned to each household. They will provide a personalised package of support to tenants, offering both practical and financial assistance throughout the moving process.

This support will include:

  • A removal package, including help with packing and unpacking

  • Provision of new floor coverings

  • Provision of new window coverings

  • A Home Loss Payment and Disturbance Payment (as set by the Scottish Government), totalling £2,570 per household

A person-centred approach will be adopted to ensure that suitable alternative accommodation is identified to best meet each individual's needs. This may include properties within the Council’s own housing stock or those offered by other housing providers, depending on the tenant’s preference.

This process will take place over several months—and in some cases, years—ensuring tenants have sufficient time for thoughtful planning and tailored support.

Details about information gathered from tenants meetings and community drop-in sessions across various locations will be shared here soon. Keep an eye on this page for further details.

Page last updated: 15 Apr 2025, 11:25 AM