Opening Plenary: Policy context and overview

What’s expected of social landlords in promoting choice and mobility Lorna Brady Policy Officer – Housing Inspectorate Audit Commission

What this session will cover The Audit Commissions priorities What the Housing Inspectorate does Key Lines of Enquiry –What they are –How to use them Allocations and lettings Positive practice

The Audit Commission’s Priorities To raise standards of financial management and financial reporting To challenge public bodies to deliver better value for money To encourage continual improvement in public services so they meet the challenging needs of diverse communities and provide fair access to all To promote high standards of governance and accountability To stimulate significant improvement in the quality of data and the use of information by decision makers

The role of the Housing Inspectorate We help local authorities, ALMOs and housing associations to improve their services. Inspections Research functions Partnership working e.g. housing corporation Dissemination of good practice

KLoEs – Landlord Services No. 3Stock Investment and Asset Management No. 4 Income Management No. 5 Resident Involvement No. 6Tenancy and Estate Management No. 7Allocations and lettings

KLoEs – Community Housing No. 7Allocations and lettings No. 8 Homelessness and Housing Needs No. 9Private Sector Housing No. 10 Supporting People

KLoEs – specialist functions No. 11Supported Housing No. 12Management of leasehold and Home Ownership No. 13Regeneration and Neighbourhood Renewal No. 14Right to Buy and Right to Acquire

Allocations and lettings KLoE How fairly and effectively does the organisation administer the local housing registration scheme for social housing in the area? How good is the organisation’s allocation policy and how effectively does the organisation manage revisions, updates and amendments to the policy in consultation with service users? How much choice can applicants exercise over the type and location of their future home through the allocation policy and being registered on the housing register, through mechanisms such as a choice-based lettings scheme?

How you can get the most from the KLOEs Not just about preparing for inspection but also A tool to assist in the ongoing self assessment/review and improvement processes – self challenge –Increased self awareness across the housing sector –Reinforce the importance of the customer in service provision and delivery –Outcomes are paramount – processes and structures are merely a means to delivery

Some examples of positive practice Web site has in excess of 60 example of positive practice relating to allocations and lettings All available on our web site at

Havant Borough Council HBC commissions a partner organisation to act as ‘matchmaker’ between homeless people aged 16 to 25 and private homeowners who want to let a room in their properties. Although it is a small-scale initiative, this approach has made an enormous difference to the people it has helped.

Rotherham Furnished tenancies are provided to support the sustainability of tenancies. The furnished home scheme was introduced to assist customers setting up a home for the first time. It also assists with the sustainability of tenancies by helping people avoid going into debt and having to take out loans to buy furniture. The scheme also assists customers in moving into their home quicker, speeding up entitlement to Housing Benefits.

Sheffield Homes (ALMO) Although 16 per cent of cases on the citywide housing register are from BME groups, they make up 22 per cent of the CBL property bids. Sheffield Homes makes it easy to use and employs staff with language skills to help those whose first language is not English. A specialist ‘community homefinders’ team’ helps BME homeless families to use the system. This team also helps families settle in new areas.

Derwent Living (HA) Derwent Living carries out community profiling. This involves surveying residents every 18 months. This identifies resident demographics, such as age, ethnicity, and disability status. This has been used to inform how services should be provided, such as, language requirements and local lettings policies.

Your response How are you measuring up to KLoE requirements on allocations and lettings?