HOW SCORE WORKS
SCORE, funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Centre for Housing Research (CHR), monitors new tenancies granted by registered housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland. Monitoring is undertaken by submission of a lettings log for each new tenancy, which is completed by the landlord together with the tenant. The lettings log records details about the tenancy, the tenant household and the property being let.
SCORE data collection, preparation and analysis is undertaken by the CHR, at the University of St Andrews. The SCORE project is based at the CHR offices in St Andrews, and all enquiries regarding SCORE should be directed there. Contact details are available on the Contact Us page.
TYPE OF DATA COLLECTED
SCORE stands for Scottish Continuous Recording system, and is designed to collect information from RSLs, about the new lets they are making in any given year. The data gathered concerns many different aspects of the lets being made including:
- the demographic characteristics of tenant households;
- the pathway by which a household has become a RSL tenant;
- the financial profile of tenant households;
- the type and condition of the property being let;
- the financial aspects of the let being made, including rent and affordability.
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
SCORE data is collected through the use of the SCORE lettings log, a copy of which is completed by RSL staff for each new letting (see section 2.2 of the SCORE manual for details of what types of letting are included/excluded). The lettings log design means that much of the property data can be compiled from your own housing records, however, other data will need to be completed by organisation staff together with the tenant being housed. This can usually be done at the lettings interview. The lettings log utilises coding and tick-boxes on most questions, and therefore is quite simple to complete and can be filled in with a minimum of effort and time.
DATA PROCESSING & ANALYSIS
Completed lettings logs are sent in batches to the CHR at the end of each month (or continually throughout the month if you use the online system), where they are entered into a central database and validated. The validation process involves checking the logs for missing data and/or errors, and if needs be the CHR will contact RSLs to query incomplete or inconsistent data. Validated logs are then analysed to produce statistical information and reports for use by the RSL providing the data, as well as the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.
DATA SUBMISSION METHODS
Submitting by the electronic method is the preferred way to submit your SCORE logs.
Paper submission is gradually being phased out - by 2010 all submissions should be made via the Online Submission system.
The electronic method of submission allows for better quality data as it has built-in validation to assist you to complete your SCORE logs fully and accurately. If you currently submit on paper but would like to discuss submitting via the Online Submission system, please email and we will be glad to assist.
SCORE Online
From the main menu go to 'Online Facilities' and then click 'Online Submissions' - you can then enter your logs online, without the need for additional software to be installed. The system has built-in validation to assist you in completing the logs, and the transfer of completed logs to us happens instantaneously once you have completed and checked your data entry. This section is password protected - if you do not already know your password please email scorehelp@st-andrews.ac.uk
Paper Submission
Paper logs should be returned monthly, complete with a batch header, and sent by mail to the SCORE office (see Contact Us section for full office address).
DATA PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
Please note that the lettings log includes no address data, so once it reaches the CHR it cannot be traced to any individual or household (i.e. the data is anonymous). This means that no special measures are needed under the Data Protection Act 1998.