Slater Court, Ellon

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Slater Court is located in the town centre of Ellon, on Schoolhill. The scheme contains 32 Sheltered Housing flats, split across 3 levels. Aberdeenshire Council has a total of 86 Sheltered Housing properties in Ellon.

Occupancy rates at the scheme averaged 97.6% over 10 years, and have been consistently around this level for the whole period.

Financially, Slater Court has a negative Net Present Value of -£3.7 million, which is driven by the level of future investment required. This means that the scheme would require substantial subsidy from other council tenants to maintain it.

Ellon offers a wide range of facilities for tenants, including GP and pharmacy services alongside a range of shops and other amenities. The settlement also offers regular public transport for tenants, supporting those without access to a car.

The main driver for considering Slater Court for closure is the future cost of maintaining the scheme, which will require substantial subsidy from other housing tenants.


Slater Court is located in the town centre of Ellon, on Schoolhill. The scheme contains 32 Sheltered Housing flats, split across 3 levels. Aberdeenshire Council has a total of 86 Sheltered Housing properties in Ellon.

Occupancy rates at the scheme averaged 97.6% over 10 years, and have been consistently around this level for the whole period.

Financially, Slater Court has a negative Net Present Value of -£3.7 million, which is driven by the level of future investment required. This means that the scheme would require substantial subsidy from other council tenants to maintain it.

Ellon offers a wide range of facilities for tenants, including GP and pharmacy services alongside a range of shops and other amenities. The settlement also offers regular public transport for tenants, supporting those without access to a car.

The main driver for considering Slater Court for closure is the future cost of maintaining the scheme, which will require substantial subsidy from other housing tenants.


Questions

Question 1: you would think that with a reduction in carers the demand for Sheltered Housing would increase or perhaps demand for Very Sheltered Housing (VSH)? 

Answer 1: Sheltered Housing Schemes in Aberdeenshire are assets of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) with all services funded through rent paid by Aberdeenshire Council tenants. No contribution is received from the wider Council or from Government or from Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care (H&SC) budget. The Council’s primary responsibilities are towards its tenants and to ensure the (HRA) is managed achieving best value for all tenants. All care and support provision which includes VSH, are Aberdeenshire H&SC responsibility and they receive money for there services, it is not housings responsibility to provide care services.

Question 2: I am surprised to hear there are over 100 empty properties in Sheltered Housing why is this and what are you doing to advertise them?

Answer 2: These are all the void properties in Sheltered Housing across Aberdeenshire, some of these are in locations where the scheme is low demand, and there are no applicants who want to move into them. Some of the reasons for low demand are due to the rural nature of the scheme and lack of local services available e.g. shops, no public transport. Some low demand are due to the nature of the property e.g. bedsit or small flat. The current choice based letting system will be advertising current properties, so people can bid for them. If they have been advertised and there is still no interest in some locations we have worked with community council's to advertise these properties, there are posters places in communities, and the Options and Homelessness team (who manage applications/allocations) will contact individuals on the waiting list to ask them if they want to take a property that is low demand.  

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  • Share The details added for the scheme being considered for closure contain contain a "Net Present Value". Can you please explain the meaning of this term with regards to its use by Aberdeenshire Council under the sheltered housing proposal? on Facebook Share The details added for the scheme being considered for closure contain contain a "Net Present Value". Can you please explain the meaning of this term with regards to its use by Aberdeenshire Council under the sheltered housing proposal? on Twitter Share The details added for the scheme being considered for closure contain contain a "Net Present Value". Can you please explain the meaning of this term with regards to its use by Aberdeenshire Council under the sheltered housing proposal? on Linkedin Email The details added for the scheme being considered for closure contain contain a "Net Present Value". Can you please explain the meaning of this term with regards to its use by Aberdeenshire Council under the sheltered housing proposal? link

    The details added for the scheme being considered for closure contain contain a "Net Present Value". Can you please explain the meaning of this term with regards to its use by Aberdeenshire Council under the sheltered housing proposal?

    StephenR asked 15 days ago

    When assessing whether to invest in a housing scheme like Slater court, we use a financial tool called Net Present Value (NPV). This method calculates the long-term value of the property over a 30-year period, which is the standard term set by the Scottish Government for evaluating housing assets.

    The NPV calculation includes all the required upgrades to bring the building up to modern standards—such as:

    • Installation of sprinkler systems
    • Lift replacements or installations
    • Upgrades to heating systems
    • Modernisation of fire alarms and lighting
    • General improvements to meet accessibility and safety standards

    If the NPV is negative or marginal, it means that the cost of investment outweighs the long-term benefit, making it financially unsustainable within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is funded solely by tenant rents.

    That said, we fully recognise that these buildings are more than just numbers—they are homes and part of the community fabric. That’s why we are currently in a formal consultation process, and no final decisions have been made. We are listening carefully to residents, families, and local stakeholders to explore all viable options.

    We remain committed to ensuring that future housing needs are met, and that any changes are made with compassion, transparency, and a focus on long-term sustainability.

  • Share Does the net present value include the cost of future required upgrades such as sprinkler systems etc. and if so over how many years? on Facebook Share Does the net present value include the cost of future required upgrades such as sprinkler systems etc. and if so over how many years? on Twitter Share Does the net present value include the cost of future required upgrades such as sprinkler systems etc. and if so over how many years? on Linkedin Email Does the net present value include the cost of future required upgrades such as sprinkler systems etc. and if so over how many years? link

    Does the net present value include the cost of future required upgrades such as sprinkler systems etc. and if so over how many years?

    StephenR asked 15 days ago

    When assessing whether to invest in a housing scheme like Slater court, we use a financial tool called Net Present Value (NPV). This method calculates the long-term value of the property over a 30-year period, which is the standard term set by the Scottish Government for evaluating housing assets.

    The NPV calculation includes all the required upgrades to bring the building up to modern standards—such as:

    • Installation of sprinkler systems
    • Lift replacements or installations
    • Upgrades to heating systems
    • Modernisation of fire alarms and lighting
    • General improvements to meet accessibility and safety standards

    If the NPV is negative or marginal, it means that the cost of investment outweighs the long-term benefit, making it financially unsustainable within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is funded solely by tenant rents.

    That said, we fully recognise that these buildings are more than just numbers—they are homes and part of the community fabric. That’s why we are currently in a formal consultation process, and no final decisions have been made. We are listening carefully to residents, families, and local stakeholders to explore all viable options.

    We remain committed to ensuring that future housing needs are met, and that any changes are made with compassion, transparency, and a focus on long-term sustainability. 

Page last updated: 12 May 2025, 02:07 PM