Tenancy strategies: can we do better together? Sue Beecroft Housing co-ordinator Cambridge housing sub-region

The Cambridge housing sub-region  One of four growth areas  History of joint working between planners (since 1974) and housing officers (CRHB)  LDV set up in 2004 to support  Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Structure Plan evolved into East of England Plan  And now? Continued support for good quality growth 

The Cambridge housing sub-region  Greater Cambridge - Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership  Covers 13 partners  Board up and running  Bidding for Enterprize Zone  Business plan being drafted  Practicalities being agreed 

The Cambridge housing sub-region  Seven districts, two counties  To meet the housing challenge, partners worked together on: –Housing co-ordinator –SHMA + research officer –Home-Link CBL system –HomeTrack subscription x 7 

Localism Bill LIP LEP Supported housing New Homes Bonus Affordable Rents Private rented Other resources RP plans HCA funding Jigsaw pieces ?

Housing priorities  We work to share learning and experience across our seven districts, to… –Support economic growth through new homes –Create balanced, mixed, sustainable communities –Improve existing homes –Tackle homelessness and meet housing need –Secure better health through housing and support  Each has links to tenancy strategy work

Do we have enough in common?  Established working between partners  Political differences  Stock differences  Are there areas we can work together on, such as –Sharing data –Communications and terminology –Access, choice and equalities –Monitoring outcomes and trends –Agreeing on outputs

Data  Stock and tenure profile  Stock turnover and type  Housing markets  Current rent levels and affordability  Incomes  Housing needs register: size needed  Lettings to general needs and sheltered housing  Length of residence  Moves out of social housing  Effect of welfare reforms locally  Effect of tenures and tenancy management  Plans for new homes

Example: rents and allowances  Using SHMA and hometrack data, average weekly rent for a 3 bed  Ranges from £100pw…(one ward only!)  …to more than £300pw  Mid range values £150 to £199 (60% of our wards)  Impact at the extremes, gives evidence to support “affordable rents” may only be affordable if <80% of private rent levels

 This map shows the local housing allowance (LHA) based on 3-bed median Example: rents and allowances 

Communication: we want to…  Minimise confusion  Make housing options clear through Homelink both at start and end of fixed term tenancies  Clarify housing choices without reducing involvement, understanding and participation. Includes affordability issues  Support and maintain strong links with housing providers

Example: Language  Lifetime  Fixed term  Secure  Assured  Assured shorthold  Temporary  Flexible  Affordable  Social  Sheltered  Supported  Intermediate  Introductory  Probationary

Example: Language  Lifetime  Fixed term  Secure  Assured  Assured shorthold  Temporary  Flexible  Affordable  Social  Sheltered  Supported  Intermediate  Introductory  Probationary

Need to monitor  Levels and bands of housing need  Homelessness and repeat homelessness  Rent levels for new and existing homes  Void times, especially following end of a flexible tenancy  Where and how fixed terms are used  Who gets which product – is access equitable? 

And trends…  Numbers of new homes built, tenures and terms  Overall effects on housing needs and housing market, the “balance”  Effect on development activity – all homes and affordable  Effect on site viability  Outcome of term-end reviews overall  Effect on community and family stability

Possible outputs… To save each district and partner making individual effort, we could  Devise an “umbrella” strategy: agreed principles with district detail and possibly partner’s links nested within  Include tenancy issues within a new sub-regional housing strategy  Monitor investment and outcomes in our LIPs  Monitor the effect on markets via data analysis in SHMA provided we identify the indicators needed  Need to remember public scrutiny – so need accessible information

Timeline Autumn 2010Affordable Rent and flexible tenancies invented May 2011Bids submitted to HCA for next 4 years programme including conversions and disposals June 2011PPS3 amended so AR defined as affordable for planning purposes June 2011+Providers working on Tenancy Policies Late 2011?Expect Localism Bill to be passed + 12 monthsAuthorities to publish tenancy strategies

In summary…  Customer is central  What effect on our housing market?  Working together is more essential than ever  For all partners we want co-ordination…

…not fragmentation …if we are to tackle tenancies together