The pilot was agreed at a meeting of the Housing and Community Safety Committee, where councillors considered the annual report on the council’s housing allocations system.

The new approach will explore how housing allocations in more remote locations can be better aligned with local needs, including opportunities to support key workers and strengthen community resilience. The findings from the pilot will help inform a future lettings plan.

Councillors also agreed that the overall housing allocation quotas for 2026/27 will remain unchanged from the previous year.

This means 52% of council home lets will continue to be allocated to homeless applicants, 32% to those on the housing waiting list and 18% to existing tenants looking to move home.

The report also highlighted that the number of people on the housing waiting list has fallen by 28% over the past five years, largely due to a list management exercise which removed applications where applicants did not re-register or make contact within the required timescales. However, demand remains high, with around six applicants for every council home let each year.

Cllr Amber Dunbar, chair of the Housing and Community Safety Committee, said: “Demand for council housing remains high across Moray and we are continuing to focus on making sure homes are allocated fairly. The rural lettings pilot will also help us better understand how we can support communities in more remote areas and strengthen long-term sustainability.”