The Local Housing Strategy for 2025–2030, sets out how the council and its partners will tackle housing challenges across the area. 

The plan focuses on increasing housing supply, improving the condition and energy efficiency of homes, preventing homelessness and ensuring housing supports health and wellbeing. 

It was developed in collaboration with local organisations, housing providers and community groups and shaped by early input from residents. The plan reflects a wide range of views and priorities across Moray aiming to achieve the vision of ‘In Moray everyone has access to the right home, in the right place at the right time’. 

Key areas of focus include building more homes to support sustainable communities and economic growth; making better use of existing homes to prevent homelessness and improve housing choice; strengthening partnership working to support health and wellbeing; and improving property condition and affordable warmth across all homes. 

A public consultation on the draft plan received 70 responses, with overall feedback showing strong support for the proposed priorities and actions. 

Councillor Amber Dunbar, chair of Moray Council’s Housing and Community Safety Committee, said: “Moray’s new Local Housing Strategy sets out a clear plan for how we’ll work with partners to improve housing across the area to achieve our vision.

“The feedback we received through the consultation helped make sure the plan reflects the priorities and experiences of people across Moray. I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their views.”

Moray’s updated Common Repairs Policy sets out how the council will manage repairs to shared parts of buildings where responsibility is divided between the local authority and private owners - including roofs, stairwells, communal walls and drainage. It aims to ensure essential maintenance in mixed-tenure blocks is carried out fairly, consistently and in line with national legislation.

Approval follows a nine-week public consultation, which received 90 responses - the vast majority of which supported the proposals.

Key features include clearer guidance on the responsibilities of homeowners and the council, a stronger process for managing repairs in mixed-tenure buildings and measures to protect the Housing Revenue Account through robust debt recovery where owners fail to pay. It also sets out how decisions will be made when title deeds are unclear, using the Tenement Management Scheme to ensure shared repair costs are allocated fairly.

Cllr Dunbar said: “The updated policy provides clearer guidance for homeowners and tenants while ensuring repairs to shared parts of buildings are carried out fairly and efficiently. This policy sets out a clear and consistent approach so that essential repairs can be carried out when they’re needed, while making sure costs are shared fairly between the Council and private owners.”

Meanwhile, Moray Council has also approved a new housing policy designed to strengthen support for people affected by domestic abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Housing Policy was agreed by councillors at a meeting of the Housing and Community Safety Committee following an eight-week public consultation held between November 2025 and January 2026.

Around 9,690 tenants and housing applicants were contacted as part of the consultation, which received 139 responses. Of those who responded, 74% said they had direct experience of domestic abuse or were supporting someone who had.

Overall feedback was strongly supportive, with 91% of respondents agreeing with the draft policy and most saying it was clear and easy to understand.

The policy sets out a trauma-informed, person-centred approach to supporting people experiencing domestic abuse. It aims to help individuals remain safely in their homes where possible while also providing clear options for moving to alternative accommodation where needed. This approach will help prevent homelessness and improve housing security.

When asked about the types of housing support that would be most important, respondents highlighted moving to a different council property for safety (75%), access to emergency temporary accommodation (67%) and support to remain safely in their current home (65%). Refuge accommodation and additional safety measures in homes such as improved locks or security devices were also identified as key priorities.

Respondents also shared suggestions for improvement, including clearer information about housing options and waiting times, safer ways to communicate with housing staff and the importance of trauma-informed training to help staff better understand and respond to different forms of abuse.

The feedback received helped shape the final policy, with updates made to wording and guidance following the consultation.

Cllr Dunbar, said: “I’m extremely grateful to everyone who shared their views as part of this consultation. I recognise how difficult it can be to talk about experiences of domestic abuse, and I want to emphasise just how valuable the insight from survivors has been.

“The feedback shows strong support for the policy and highlights how important it is that people affected by domestic abuse have safe, supportive housing options. This policy helps ensure people can access the right support at the right time, whether that means helping them remain safely in their home or supporting a move to alternative accommodation where needed.”