Sheltered and supported housing

We offer a range of housing options for people who need additional support, including sheltered housing, extra care housing and supported accommodation. If you are not sure which option is right for you, contact us.

Sheltered Housing

Sheltered housing is for people aged 65 or over who need low level housing support and the reassurance of a warden or housing support worker nearby. We provide sheltered housing at two locations in Orkney:

• Lambaness, Kirkwall (14 bungalows)
• Rae's Close, Stromness (9 bungalows and 6 flats)

Properties are small (1 or 2 bedroom), easy to manage, and grouped together as a scheme. All properties have a community alarm system for use in emergencies.

The service

The warden service provides:

• A daily welfare check and a range of housing management welfare services
• A caretaking service within the scheme
• A response to crises or emergencies outside normal working hours where available
• Administrative duties and other duties relevant to the housing support service

A written support plan is agreed with each tenant at the start of their tenancy and reviewed at least every 6 months, or whenever needs change. Tenants' wishes are fully taken into account.

Additional services such as frozen meals, cleaning and telecare may be available on a needs basis. A separate fee may apply.

The service is regulated by the Care Inspectorate. All warden staff have Protection for Vulnerable Groups checks and treat tenants with respect and dignity at all times.

Eligibility

Sheltered housing is available to individuals assessed as having low dependency needs. To be eligible, you must:

• Be aged 65 or over (exceptions may be considered in some circumstances)
• Have a housing need
• Have a need for the community alarm service
• Have an Indicator of Relative Need (IoRN) classification of A, B or C, indicating low dependency. 

The IoRN is a nationally recognised tool for assessing an individual's abilities for independent living across health, social, mental and physical needs. This assessment is carried out by Orkney Health and Care.

Places are decided by a panel who consider whether your care and support needs can be met by sheltered housing or whether another option would be more suitable.

Charges

Rent is charged based on property size and type. Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be entitled to housing benefit to help with rent costs.

A nominal weekly housing support charge of £2.86 applies (2026/27 rate).

How to apply

You can apply directly to Housing Services. If you would prefer, a member of staff can visit you at home to explain the process and help you complete the forms. Application packs are also available from the Council Offices in Kirkwall and the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness. Contact us for further information.

Extra Care Housing

We provide extra care housing in St Margaret's Hope. The facility includes 13 properties available to let, all linked by an electronic call system to a central core building. Six properties form part of the core building, with a further eight in a crescent behind it. The grounds are maintained by the council and a service charge applies.

The aim of extra care housing is to support tenants to remain as independent as possible, with the reassurance that staff are available to provide appropriate care and support. The level of care available is broadly equivalent to that of a residential care setting, but tenants continue to hold their own tenancy.

Supported Accommodation

We provide supported accommodation in a range of circumstances. It is often linked to our homelessness service and is designed to help people receive support while they address the issues that led to them becoming homeless. We also provide supported accommodation for people with particular support needs.

All care staff are trained, subject to the Scottish Social Services Council's Codes of Practice, and have enhanced Disclosure and Protection of Vulnerable Groups checks. All services are regulated by the Care Inspectorate. There will be appropriately trained care staff on site at all times.

Phoenix House

Phoenix House Women's Refuge is owned by Orkney Housing Association Ltd and run by Women's Aid Orkney. It provides safe temporary accommodation for women and their children fleeing domestic abuse, with support available on site.

Phoenix House has four self-contained flats, one of which is fully adapted for wheelchair users. It is intended for the initial 3 to 6 month period, after which residents can move into council emergency accommodation. Outreach support from Women's Aid Orkney may be available after this.

Four additional 2-bedroom properties surrounding Phoenix House are leased by the council from OHAL for use as move-on accommodation for those leaving Phoenix House or otherwise fleeing domestic abuse.

Young people's supported accommodation

We provide two supported accommodation projects for homeless young people aged 16 to 25, helping them to develop the skills they need to sustain a tenancy.

• Glaitness Farm House, Kirkwall: three supported flats with a shared kitchen. A support worker is present on site throughout evenings and weekends and provides a sleep-in service.
• John Street, Stromness: four rooms (one en-suite) with a shared kitchen, supported in the same way as the Kirkwall facility.

Support is provided by Right There, who are trained to work with individuals with challenging behaviour. Young people leaving care may also be placed in these projects where they need to develop independent living skills.

Supported housing for people with disabilities

We provide supported housing for people with learning disabilities in various locations throughout Kirkwall.

Supported housing for people with physical disabilities is provided by Orkney Housing Association Ltd at Queen Sonja Kloss and in dispersed locations across Orkney. We operate a joint working arrangement with OHAL for this.

Support for Adults with Incapacity

It is important to think about what would happen if you or a relative lost the capacity to make important decisions, including those needed to manage a tenancy or finances. Arranging a power of attorney in advance means that someone has the authority to act on your behalf, for example to end a tenancy if you no longer need the property.

The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 allows individuals to give another person authority to make decisions on behalf of someone who is, or may become, unable to manage their own affairs.

Under the Act, you can:

• Create a Power of Attorney
• Apply to access money using the Access to Funds Scheme
• Apply to make a Financial Intervention
• Apply to be a Financial Guardian

For further information, visit the Office of the Public Guardian website.

Contact us