High demand for council housing in East Renfrewshire has led to an “emergency” change in how properties are allocated, which is expected to free up 70 properties for homeless people.

Existing council tenants will get priority as more than 50 new homes in Newton Mearns are assigned — a move which the council has said will release other properties for homeless households.

There is “unprecedented demand” for council homes, officials have reported, as the number of homeless presentations increases and the waiting list grows.

Under the current lettings policy, up to 40% of new-build council homes and up to 70% of existing council homes are allocated to homeless households.

East Renfrewshire Council is in the process of allocating 105 new-build homes at Maidenhill, Newton Mearns — with bids sought from the housing waiting list in May this year.

A decision to alter the lettings policy was made while 53 homes were still to be allocated. Officials said the change “prioritises the bids from existing council tenants with the aim to meet the housing need of existing council tenants and increase turnover to meet the need of homeless households”.

Of the 53 properties, 30 will go to eligible tenants who bid for the homes while 23 will be split 70% to homeless households (16) and 30% to waiting list applicants (seven).

The full allocation of the site is: 38 allocated to homeless households; 45 allocated to council tenants; 22 waiting list applicants re-housed.

The council report added: “Whilst the initial lets of new build homes at Maidenhill to homeless households is reducing, by prioritising lets to existing tenants, the project will release 70 properties for homeless households (38 at Maidenhill, 32 from existing stock vacated by tenants re-housed at Maidenhill).  “This is six more than the current policy would permit.”

Officials reported demand for council housing has “increased steadily over the past few years and in particular from homeless households”.

In 2018/19, there were 308 homeless presentations and 251 households had a right to an offer of permanent accommodation.

By 2022/23, those figures had increased to 445 homeless presentations and 392 households with a right to permanent accommodation. In 2023/24, it was 484 and 354 respectively.

The general housing waiting list has also increased from around 2,800 in 2018/19 to over 6,700 at the end of 2023/24.

The council has around 250 to 300 empty council homes each year, however, officials said, the “turnover has begun to drop, reducing the number of available properties”.  Housing associations also have a legal duty to assist with housing homeless people. Barrhead Housing Association has allocated up to 40% of all its empty properties.

Officials added there are “existing tenants who are seeking to move and cannot secure new accommodation”.

They said: “When an existing council tenant is rehoused, the let not only meets their housing need but also allows the council to allocate their former tenancy to another household in need.”

The emergency change to the lettings policy was approved by council leader Owen O’Donnell and housing convener Cllr Danny Devlin on August 20. It will go before cabinet members next week.

A full review of the council’s letting policy, including consultation, is planned, with a report on the findings expected early next year.