Housing the under 35s What mhs are doing about it ? Matt Eddy- Business Project Manger

Setting the scene At mhs we have: We house 1 in 12 Medway residents 8500 properties 20,000 customers Mainly based in Medway We house 1 in 12 Medway residents We provide Supported housing for the 65+, we run Foyers for 18-25s. We are not going to exclude the under 35s LHA for 1 bed in Medway is £110 The shared accommodation rate is £66 We have 324 single under 35s, 214 on benefit

Market rent What do you get if you rent in Medway https://www.spareroom.co.uk/flatshare/kent/chatham Single room in shared house incl bills = £78 / week So is there a need to provide a service? Very few will take benefits (will this be different under UC) We need to deal with those we already have. We are not going to evict 214 tenants

What are others doing Very few examples of people who are doing this Recommend read spare to share https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/housing-resource-centre/housing-centre-guides/spare-to-share-toolkit/ But wide variety of social aims – not just simply landlords

What we are doing Create a new fixed term tenancy to be used for the under 35s (for shared accommodation). Not a licence Begin an assessment of all under 35s esp the 214 who are on benefits – how many will actually be affected (don’t know the legislation yet!) Develop a pilot and let that to individuals on a shared accommodation basis.  Monitor outcome Later in the year consider extra budget for 2018/19 to allow for potentially extra support that will be required for the under 35s – let them stay for 3-6 months

Our pilot We are converting one of our properties from 2 bed into 3 bed shared - see floor plan Things to consider – we have done a HMO check list. Key areas: How to advertise – a room through home choice Getting suitable house sharers – interview the person What commitment from tenant – just a landlord or need to seek work and move on?

Continued: Set up of room – personal drying space, personal fridge Communal facilities – wifi etc Who pays the bills – consider turnover and responsibility – should we pay the bills Housing systems – can our IT system identify a tenancy to a room Fully furnished? White goods, carpet, curtain poles, yes. Bed? Gift the bed? Fixed term tenancy to encourage move on