tenancy strategies: can we do better together? sue beecroft housing co-ordinator cambridge housing...
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Tenancy strategies:Tenancy strategies:can we do better together?can we do better together?
Sue Beecroft
Housing co-ordinator
Cambridge housing sub-region
The Cambridge housing sub-regionThe 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
www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk/documents/quality_panel/quality_charter_2010.pdf
The Cambridge housing sub-regionThe 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
www.yourlocalenterprisepartnership.co.uk
The Cambridge housing sub-regionThe 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
www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk/shma
Localism Bill
LIP
LEP
Supported housing
New Homes Bonus
Affordable Rents
Private rented
Other resources
RP plans
HCA funding
Jigsaw piecesJigsaw pieces
?
Housing prioritiesHousing 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?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
DataData
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 allowancesExample: 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 allowancesExample: rents and allowances
http://atlas.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/Housing/LHA/atlas.html
Communication: we want to…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: LanguageExample: Language
Lifetime Fixed term Secure Assured Assured shorthold Temporary Flexible
Affordable Social Sheltered Supported Intermediate Introductory Probationary
Example: LanguageExample: Language
Lifetime Fixed term Secure Assured Assured shorthold Temporary Flexible
Affordable Social Sheltered Supported Intermediate Introductory Probationary
Need to monitorNeed 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?
www.cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk/shma
And trends…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…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
TimelineTimeline
Autumn 2010 Affordable Rent and flexible tenancies invented
May 2011 Bids submitted to HCA for next 4 years programme including conversions and disposals
June 2011 PPS3 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 months Authorities to publish tenancy strategies
In summary…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…