TENANCY SUSTAINMENT, A RESOURSE FOR TEAMS... A guide by Adesola Yetunde Aralepo

Common problems are: Rogue landlord Tenant arrears Disrepairs etc

Private Tenant - 5 years in current home. Arrears. Property in a state of disrepair. Eviction notice. ASB case under investigation. Meet JoeReferral Notes Joe is having challenges with his Tenancy

Meet Rose - Tenancy Sustainment officer Problems Identified Arrears No Income Unemployed Has other debt Wife couldn’t cope with situation – Left with the kids Started drinking heavily He became depressed Property in a state of disrepair Vulnerable Antisocial behaviour to neighbours Eviction notice ASB Action under way Actions taken aCTION Team supported debt advised, LHA Benefit applied Careers advice Money advice Mediation Family intervention unit Referred - drugs and alcohol GP Maintenance Landlord informed Referred to Housing support TSO researched and gather relevant information Liaison with Housing team re benefit Liaison with Enforcement team re findings - vulnerability Finance, legal services, Housing. Finance team - He can pay his dept. Housing Housing – can better sustain tenancy. family - Children services Community safety Housing - Homeless Drug and alcohol team - Community, Housing Housing, Health and safety Public Protection Legal services, Enforcement Housing and community Legal service, Income team Enforcement team, community safety.

A better approach – Prevention Creating Sustainanable Tenancy Pre-tenancy activities to: Initail risk assesment to identify barriers to tenancy sustainment such as: · Social or health vulnerabilities Solution Take proactive steps to prevent the potential risk to tenacy sustainment that these issues present eg: Money advice · Council debt advice service or other agencies E.g attend budgetting skills workshop, debt advice etc · Employment support Rent collection service · A shift from arrears collection to arrears prevention example, pay HB/ LHA directly to landlord. i.e eliminate the risk