1. Driven by challenges of increasing demand for housing, at time of constrained delivery Also by demographic challenge Focus on positive outcomes for tenants Cost effectiveness of tackling underoccupation, in comparison with new provision Research project commissioned to assess extent of underoccupation, identify success factors in dealing with it, and show potential to meet need by responding to underoccupation in social housing Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

2. 103 landlords surveyed, response rate 33% Data gathering mainly based on tenant profiling – this is still in its early days Augmented by public data from census etc. Reviewed existing good practice Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

3. Social Housing Underoccupation – two rooms and over (Census Data) Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

4. Household types in underoccupation (Census Data) Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study East of England region 2 plus bedrooms1 plus bedrooms 2 and 1 plus bedrooms One person non-pensioner18.4%25.0%43.4% One family all pensioners39.8%35.0%74.8% Couple with no children44.0%32.2%76.2% Couple with dependent children11.9%29.0%40.9% Couple with non-dependent children 22.9%40.7%63.6% Lone parent with dependent children 9.7%26.6%36.3%

5. 44% of landlords hadn’t undertaken a survey which enables comparison of household type to size of home. Of those who had undertaken a survey, most (60%) had done it in the last year, so still early to get full analysis Of those who were able to respond, landlords identified between 1% and 19% of their stock as underoccupied (two rooms and over), and between 5% and 34% (one room and over) Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

6. Do you have a scheme to reduce underoccupation? (landlord survey) Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study Answer optionsPercentResponse count Yes, we have our own scheme54.5%18 We take part in a wider scheme (e.g. run by the local authority)3.0%1 No45.5%15 answered question33 skipped question0

7. The survey identified 167 downsizing moves in the past year, 65-74 age range most likely to move. Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

8. What cash incentives do you offer to encourage downsizing? Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study Response Average MinMaxResponse Count Cash incentive per move (please specify usual amount) 1,568.46500.004,50020 Cash incentive per room given up (please specify how much per room) 785.71500.001,50015 Removal expenses 771.43300.001,50015 answered question21 skipped question12

9. What incentives (not cash) do you offer to underoccupiers to move to a smaller home Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study PercentCount Discounted or free rent for a period at a new home (please give details) 13.3%2 Preference given to downsizers within allocation schemes 93.3%14 Practical assistance with packing and moving (what does this consist of?) 53.3%8 Help with setting up utility and other bills (please specify) 46.7%7 Additional choice or points in allocation system (please specify) 46.7%7 Allowing households to retain one spare bedroom (please specify) 73.3%11 Personal help with matching tenants to new home (for example, older people housed on ground floor in an adapted dwelling) please specify 66.7%10 Providing directory of local information on area the tenant has moved to (please specify) 53.3% 8 Additional support/care package provided (please specify) 60.0% 9 Other (please specify) 33.3% 5 answered questions 15 skipped questions 18

10. Key messages –Tackling underoccupation can help meet housing need and respond to tenants’ requirements –“Hotspots” tend to be rural, “cold spots” tend to be south Essex –The right property at the right time is essential to encourage moves with support rather than or in addition to cash is most effective incentive –Value for money when compared to new provision. –Need to encourage good practice, starting with tenant and stock profiling Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

11. Mobility Taskforce –Set up by Grant Shapps in 2009, chaired by David Orr –Identify action needed to improve mobility in social rented housing –Consulted with the sector and carried out desk research –Identified seven areas of action, of which under- occupation was one –Overarching problem was the ability of existing social tenants to compete in lettings systems for a new home –Final report due in June 2010 Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

12. Mobility Taskforce – Under-occupation theme –Potential for legislative reform to support downsizers in CBL and other lettings systems –Local lettings plans set up in partnership between housing associations and local authorities –Provide additional support to landlords and strategic authorities to offer the right incentives for downsizers –Review Housing Benefit rules to be more flexible for downsizers –Ensure that HCA resources are used to develop attractive options to encourage downsizing, learn from HAPPI report Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study

13. Taking the project forward –Publication which puts this in context of wider issues of housing for older people –To be launched at regional good practice seminar, summer 2010 –Promotion campaign Queries/comments to Claire Astbury clairea@housing.org.uk clairea@housing.org.uk Right Home, Right Place, Right Time East of England Underoccupation Study