Freedom of Information

Ore Valley Housing Association is subject to both FOISA and EIR by virtue of the: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (Designation of Persons as Scottish Public Authorities) Order 2019 (the “Order”).

The Order came into effect on 11 November 2019 and brought all Registered Social Landlords (“RSLs”) and certain RSL subsidiaries under the scope of FOISA and the EIR.

What is subject to FOISA and EIR?

In accordance with the terms of the Order, not everything that we do is subject to FOISA and EIR. Instead, we are only subject to these regimes in respect of certain functions, namely ‘housing services’ (as defined in s.165 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010) which Ore Valley Housing Association carries out – subject to some restrictions. Looking at the definition of ‘housing services’ and the restrictions which are set out in the Order the following functions carried out by Ore Valley Housing Association are covered by FOISA and EIR:

  • the prevention and alleviation of homelessness
  • the management of social housing accommodation
  • the supply of information to the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) by an RSL or a connected body (i.e. a subsidiary) in relation to its financial wellbeing and standards of governance.