How to apply for social housing
How you apply for a home with Sanctuary Scotland depends on the area where you want to live.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to join one of our open housing waiting lists and be considered for a property, you must:
- Be aged 16 or over
- Have been assessed as needing housing
- Meet the criteria of our lettings banding scheme
You will not be eligible for housing with us if:
- You do not meet the criteria above
- You have been evicted for tenancy breaches by a local authority, housing association, another registered provider or private landlord
- You have been convicted of offences that could pose a threat to the community, such as drug-related crimes, violent or abusive behaviour (including toward Sanctuary staff), or hate crimes
What size home can you apply for?
The number of bedrooms you’re eligible for depends on your household size, personal circumstances and location. We aim to provide:
- One bedroom for every adult couple
- One bedroom for any other person aged 16 or over (14 or over with These Homes in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire)
- Children under 8 are normally expected to share a room
- A boy and girl aged 8 or over will normally get their own room
- Children of the same sex aged 8 or over but under 16 (under 14 with These Homes in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire) are normally expected to share
- Children of the same sex with 8 or more years between them (10 or more with These Homes in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire) will normally get their own room
You can request a spare room over and above these criteria but are less likely to be successful.
Completing your application
If you are ready to apply, you can now submit your application online using our electronic application form in DocuSign.
Before starting, review the list of areas (PDF 281KB - opens in new tab) where you wish to apply for housing, as you will need to select them on the application form. Make sure to read the information below carefully and have all the necessary documents ready before you start.
You may need to provide supporting documents to help us assess your application. This may include:
- Proof of identity – Passport, photo driving licence, or birth certificate
- Proof of current address – Tenancy agreement, or utility bill (gas, electricity, water, home telephone) dated within the last 3 months
- Dependants – Child benefit confirmation letter or birth certificate
- Access to children – Court or solicitor documentation, or a letter from the parent/guardian with whom the child lives addressed to Sanctuary
- Pregnancy – MATB1 certificate or letter from GP or health visitor
- Medical condition/disability – Letter from a GP or other professional detailing the condition and its impact on housing needs
- Notice to quit – Official notice served by your current landlord
- Harassment – Police report or letters from supporting agencies
- Homelessness – Decision letter from your local authority
- Environmental concerns – Report from environmental health confirming poor property conditions
Before you start, please ensure you provide all necessary supporting evidence as part of your application. Avoid attaching the same document multiple times unless it is specifically required for different sections.
While we will contact you if further documents are needed, submitting incomplete or incorrect evidence may delay the processing of your application.
For Dundee applicants only
If you want to apply for medical points, you will need to apply directly to TMAS (The Medical Assessment Service). This is a separate process and must be completed through TMAS.
Identity Verification
As part of the application process, we also need to verify your identity. Before you start, make sure you have everything you need for a smooth process:
- Complete the online application form (opens in new window).
- All applicants must complete identity verification. Each applicant will need photographic ID and a smartphone to verify their identity before the form can be submitted. If any applicant does not pass identity verification, please contact us on 0808 168 3475.
- If verification is successful, upload any required evidence and press Finish to submit your application.
- You will receive an email confirmation and a copy of your completed application once it has been processed by your local office.
More details on our DocuSign process can be found in our informative video.
If you experience any issues while completing your application, please contact us on 0808 168 3475 for assistance.
What happens next?
Once you have submitted your application, here’s what to expect:
- Shortlisting: If a suitable property becomes available, we will notify you that you are on the shortlist.
- Home Visit: After shortlisting, we will visit your current home to verify your circumstances and ensure the information provided in your application is accurate and up to date.
- Property Offer: If your application is approved after the home visit, we will formally offer you a property.
- Accepting an Offer: If you accept an offer and the home is ready, you will be required to sign a tenancy agreement.
- Rent Payment: No deposit is required, but before signing up, you must pay at least one week's or one month's full rent, depending on your tenancy terms. If you pay anything other than weekly, make sure your account does not fall into arrears between payments, even if you are receiving housing-related benefits. We will discuss the required payment with you before you sign up.
- Setting Up Payments: Paying rent by Direct Debit is quick and easy. We encourage you to set this up before signing your tenancy agreement to help you avoid missed payments.
Moving in
We have a dedicated moving into your property page with useful information on setting up your utilities and home insurance.
If you need any further assistance after moving in, we’re here to help. Contact us for support or guidance.