Software for the housing and social care sectors

Abritas User Group16th May 2013

Localism Policy Changes One Year On

Charlotte Ellard & Laura Young

Welcome

Introductions – Charlotte Ellard– Laura Young

Aim of the workshop– This workshop is designed to give you feedback on what

other clients have done and approaches taken with regards to localism changes. We will also be covering the impacts of the bedroom tax and highlighting some good practice picked up from other housing authorities.

Introduction

Localism One Year On

Typical changes seen (CE)– High level review of some of the key factors we discussed

last year:-

• Qualification• Ex Service Personnel• Bedroom standard• Other local decisions:-

– LLPS– Hard to lets– Determining priorities between same level

applicants– Employment priority

Clients Approach to System Changes

What Abritas has completed so far (CE)– Total of 85 clients with CBL (different allocation schemes)– 17 in progress– 26 now live

What clients have done – 2 case studies of different approaches (CE)– Review of 2 different approaches completed to date– How best to approach the changes with Abritas

Welfare Reform & Other Changes

Tenants have seen HB reduced by 14% of eligible rent for one extra bedroom & 25% for two or more extra bedroomsKey priority for most of our clientsRecent concessions:-– Foster carers– Tenants with a child in the armed forces

Bedroom Tax (LY)

Welfare Reform & Other Changes

Recent survey conducted by NHF/Ipsos Mori/Cambridge University found:– 84% of HAs expected arrears to double as a result of

welfare reform– 57% say tenants know little/nothing about the changes

So what to do…– YouTube films (Halton Housing)– Partnership working (West Midlands Making best use of

stock partnership)– Reviewing allocation policies & priorities (most

LA’s/HA’s)– Promoting mutual exchanges – “speed dating”

Bedroom Tax – What are landlords doing? (LY)

Welfare Reform & Other Changes

– House Doctoring (Wolverhampton Homes)– Promoting Lodgers (Nottingham City Homes Info

Pack/West Somerset)– Promoting DHP (Solihull CHT administering own “pot”)– Re-designating size of homes (Knowsley HT & Leeds CC)– Reviewing development programme (Halton HT)– Single room rate changes for under 35s (Somerset)

Immigration qualification – Local residence test– Migrants needing to have contributed to the country for

at least 2 years before they will qualify

…Cont. Bedroom Tax – what are landlords doing?

Feedback In the room – show of hands (CE)– How many organisations have undertaken policy

consultations? – How many organisations have engaged Abritas in this

process?– How many are still in the planning stages and envisage

taking policy changes forward in the coming 6 – 12 months

– How many plan on changing the bedroom calculations (or have already)?

– How many will leave the bed calculations as they are and leave applicants to make an informed decision?

Feedback Implementation Process & Timescales (CE)– Consultation process of policy changes– Full analysis and specification (Statement of Works)– Technical review of change requests– Estimates provided & approval sought– Once approved development slot identified

Any questions?

What’s Next (morning session)

1.15pm in Princess Helena restaurant1.45pm Tea & Coffee & Cake2pm reconvene for plenary presentation – Dealing with the Private Rented Sector David Lawrenson - Lettingfocus

Lunch

What’s Next (afternoon session)

3.30pm reconvene for plenary presentation– Coming Soon: New Property Shop (Kevin Millard)

Other workshops still in progress

Final Presentation

Thank You