1. Sub-Regional Nomination Agreement Best Practice Guide

2. Kathy Ayres, Rehousing Manager Basildon Borough Council & Alastair Pollock, Strategy Co-ordinator SEHG Andrea O’Callaghan, Head of Allocations Swan Housing Association

3. Agenda
09.30 – Tea & Coffee
10.00 – Introduction – AP, KA & AOC
 10.30 – Group work
 11.10 – Group feedback
11.30 – Break
11.50 – Overview of Green paper - AP
 12.10 – Future discussions - KA & AOC
12.15 – Group work
12.45 – Group feedback
12.55 – Closing round-up
13.00 – Buffet lunch and networking

4. Housing growth England 300,000 by mid 2020s
250,000

5. Population Growth South Essex
2037
824,000
Growth :
113,000 – over 20 years
or 5,000 + per year
2017
711,000
ONS

6. Housing Requirement 2016-2037 3,750 – 4,000 new homes every year
Completions (net) = 1,350
2,239 affordable homes – annually next 5 years
Affordable (net) = 270
South Essex

7. Social Rented Sector England

8. Social Rented Sector
The social rented sector is the smallest tenure in England- home to 3.9 million households.
% of households in England. (20% Private Rented Sector, 63% Owner occupied)
The size of the sector has not changed much in the last decade, but has declined over the longer term.
The composition of the social sector has changed in recent years, with more households now renting from housing associations than local authorities.
, 9% (2.0m) rented from HAs & 9% (1.9 million) from LA
, 10% (2.4m) rented from HAs & 7% (1.6 million) from LA

9. Local Context: South Essex
South Essex = 298,000 units
Local Authorities = 28,500 units          Registered Providers = 14,600 units
Basildon =10,930 Castle Point =1520 Rochford =0 Thurrock =10,038 Southend =6002
Swan
Rochford HA
Estuary
Genesis
Peabody
L & Q
Clarion
Guinness
Moat
Sanctuary
Southern
CHP
Source:

10. Background South Essex Housing Group May 2017
Allocations sub-group set up June 2017
Nominations agreement
Legislative changes
Tenancy strategies
Welfare reform
GDPR

11. Allocation Sub Group Group members - five LA and twelve RP Main issues
Affordability
Identify best practice
Harder to let properties
Sharing information
Nomination agreements
Void turnaround
Tenancy type

12. and communication and affordability
Main discussions
Allocations policies
Letting process
Making offers
Refusals
and communication and affordability

13. 1. Allocation Policy discussions
Local authority policy
Homelessness
Advice and assistance
Housing need register
Register Provider policy
Best use of stock
Occupancy
Affordability

14. 1. Allocation Policy Best practice RP must check LA policies for:
Permitted levels of over-crowding
Policy on under-occupation
Children sharing bedrooms
Offers based on pregnancy
Local lettings plans
Definition of affordability
Advise if conflict of published policies

15. 2.Letting process discussions
% of true voids – RP requirement 75% or 100%
Advertising – quality of information
Shortlisting – different process
Verification – tenancy fraud
Viewings – timely
Affordability – RP to consult LA
Notifying outcomes – 24 hours

16. 2.Letting process Best practice Advance advertising
Up to date hand-over information - pre-allocate
Detailed and accurate adverts
Time frames for verification advised
Advise outcome of viewing with 24 hours
Advise tenancy start date within 24 hours

17. 3.Making/refusing offers discussions
Sensitive lets
Direct offers
Wheelchair units
Harder to let properties
Refusals
Affordability
Behaviour concerns
Change of circumstances

18. 3.Making offers and refusals
Best practice
Direct offers can be considered
Any known risks/support need notified to RP
Refusals by RP or applicants
Affordability assessments
Refusals must be discussed with LA first
Communication

19. Sub-regional nomination agreement best practice guide
Outcome
Sub-regional nomination agreement best practice guide
Used by front line staff
Adopt principles when policies allow
Consider at policy reviews
Review after 12 months

20. Key aims Improve communication Promote excellent partnership working
Spread best practice
Consistency across region
Sustainable tenancies
Improve service delivery and void turnaround
Make best use of stock
Meeting housing need
Preventing homelessness

21. Group work Scrutinise the main 4 areas covered:
Allocations policies – section 2
Letting process – sections 4 & 8
Making offers and refusals – sections 8 & 9
How will you do things differently?
What can we do to make sure it works?

22. Overview of Green Paper
Alastair Pollock
Strategy Coordinator (Housing)
EDG & SEHG

23. Green Paper New Deal for Social Housing
Ensuring homes are safe and decent
Empowering residents and strengthening the regulator
Tackling stigma and celebrating thriving communities
Effective resolution of complaints
Expanding supply and supporting home ownership

24. Key Issues Social mobility / Right to Buy
Social housing supply (£2bn boost)
Borrowing cap for LAs / RtB receipts
Welfare Reforms – LHA, fixed term tenancies
Using housing efficiently
Evidence collection on allocations para 179
-How Local authorities work…
-How Registered Providers work…
-Role of variations in letting delivery… CBL / Direct Lets

25. Future discussions Duty to refer Pre- tenancy work Tenancy fraud
Current practice
Future practice

26. Duty to refer Homeless Reduction Act 2017 October 2018
New legal duties on named public bodies
No duty on registered providers
NHF – commitment to refer
Bound by duty to refer
Method of referrals

27. Pre-tenancy work Welfare changes - implications Affordability checks
Income
Property running costs
Sustainable tenancies
Lifestyle
Manage expectations

28. Tenancy fraud Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013
Verification of applicant circumstances
Succession
Joint to sole / sole to joint
Mutual exchange
Use of ‘personal’ data
Tenancy audits / reviews

29. Group work Duty to refer Pre-tenancy work Tenancy fraud
Discuss what you do currently and
How you could do things in the future
Duty to refer
Pre-tenancy work
Tenancy fraud

30. Launch of Best Practice Guide
Round up of the day
What happens now?
Thank you for coming and supporting the launch of the document