1. Tenancy Strategies: A Local Perspective Tenancy Strategies: A Local Perspective Niki Hollingworth Housing Strategy and Development Manager St Edmundsbury Borough Council

2. The St Edmundsbury model: It’s good to talk!  What have we done?  In December 2010 set up a working group: Registered Providers Homes and Communities Agency Supporting People Housing Benefit East of England Local Government Association  Interim statement for Registered Providers to support bids  Included research and modelling based on SHMA

3. Political involvement  Members group established  Cabinet decisions on affordable rents and conversions, and developing a strategy  Parish Conference and workshop  Member bulletins  Member awareness session in July  Scrutiny committee in Autumn

5. Homeless Households Benefit Reforms Universal Credits Housing Register Social Rent / Affordable Rent Private Sector Low Income Households CBL schemes Under occupation Mobility

6. What should tenancy strategies include?  Provide guidance that RPs should have ‘regard to’ in developing their policies  Broad high level objectives  Better use of social and affordable housing to reduce housing needs, reduce costs, and bring local accountability  A view of how the wider market will be used to fill any gaps

7.  Overall, the strategy needs to be a framework that is FLEXIBLE !  Regular monitoring – what’s working, what are the outcomes and effects?  Help reduce risks for partners

8. Framework for strategy: How it’s working for us  Themes identified through partner workshops  Establish priorities  Who gets what?  For how long?  When is tenancy renewed / ended / sold?  When do we offer a tenancy in the private sector?  Housing pathway

9. Challenges  How do we market affordable rents alongside social rents?  Choice based lettings – short listing  Who does reviews?  Criteria for ending tenancy – risk of judicial review  Allocate according to income level?  Do we let the “market” decide?  Will homelessness increase?

10. Opportunities  Better use of stock  More options to meet differing needs  Local lettings plans  Help those with fixed term tenancies to plan for the future  Better use of whole housing market  Reduce under occupation

11. What have we still to do?  Equality Impact Assessment  More analysis of housing market  Develop housing pathway  Continue working with partners to develop detail of strategy – major decisions still to consider  Continue Members group  Draft strategy  Scrutiny phase  Formal Consultation  Approval through Cabinet  Implement  Monitor  Explain changes to our customers

12. Hot Tips – the “Five Ps”  Proactive  Pragmatic  Partnership  Process  Prompt