Transcript CBL / Housing Options - Salford City Council

Choice Based Lettings
Wednesday 11th February 2009
Zahid Amin, Senior Manager , Housing Choice &
Support Services
[email protected]
Ian Hilton, Principal Officer
[email protected]
0161 604 7700
Housing Connections
Partnership
•
•
•
•
Launched in July 2007
Vision to be a centre of excellence
Based at St James’s House and city wide
Common services provider delivering a wide
range of housing support services e.g.
–
–
–
–
Housing Advice and Support
Furnished Homes / Supported Tenancies
Sheltered Housing Warden Service
Salford Home Search
Why CBL?
• Pilots seen as a success:
- The government announced that all local housing
authorities should have introduced CBL to their
allocations process by 2010.
• The introduction of choice is here to stay:
- Assists in delivering on a number of other important
national strategies and plans.
What is CBL?
• Allocations policies and procedures which
incorporate an advertising scheme
• Normally involve applicants in a two stage
process:
-Apply to join the scheme
-Express an interest in particular accommodation
• Requires applicant to play an active role in the
allocation process
Benefits of CBL
• Increased transparency of the lettings function
• Helps applicants appraise their housing options
more realistically
• Improved performance, i.e. faster re letting times
and reduced tenancy turnover
• Empowers the applicant to make an informed
choice about their accommodation options
CBL IN Salford
• Salford Home Search launched in August 2007,
following approval by Cabinet
• Applicants need to register:
- Contact Centre 0161 909 6514
- Visit the Shop / Salford Home Search
- www.salfordhomesearch.co.uk
- Housing Advice and Support Services
• Once registered can bid after 24 hrs
CBL Banding
• Band A - Regeneration
• Band B - Stat homeless, those with a qualifying medical
condition and children leaving care with a qualifying
medical condition
• Band C - Children leaving care, non stat homeless,
minor medical and other reasonable preference groups
• Band D - No local connection or no housing need
CBL IN Salford
ACCESS
• Advertising is via the property sheets and website
• How to bid:
- online @ www.salfordhomesearch.co.uk
- Housing Advice and Support Services
- Contact Centre 909 6514
- Salford Home Search Shop
- Salix / City West Area Offices
- CBL Liaison Officer for Vulnerable Client
- Pinpoint – Sub Regional CBL Salford joint lead with
Bolton
CBL IN Salford
• Allocations Review Panel
- meets every Monday & is chaired and serviced
by HCP
• Membership consists of representatives from:
- Salford Home Search
- Housing Advice Service
- Salix Homes
- City West Housing Trust
- Specialist Housing Team
CBL IN Salford
• Purpose of ARP
- Banding of properties
- Allocations outside of CBL
- Resolve operational issues
- Identify strategic / policy issues
Bidding
• Bid cycles run from 10am Wednesday to
midnight on Monday
• No ‘priority’ for bidding first
• Nominated bidder can bid on the applicant’s
behalf
• Maximum of three bids per cycle
• Accessible Housing Register
Bidding
• Applicants can see their place on the bid list at any time
during the cycle
• Bids can be withdrawn
• Applicants can bid outside of their band
• List of ‘bidders’ is given to the landlord, i.e. Salix Homes
and City West. The landlord then makes a final decision
and lets the property.
• The property is offered to the applicant at the top of the
bid list
Bidding
• Lettings results are available on the website
• Results will show need, waiting time and band of
the successful applicant
CBL Facts and Figures
• The average number of properties advertised each week
is 60
• 3,089 is the average number of bids placed each week
across the bands
• There are currently approx 18,420 clients on the housing
register which is broken down into the following bands:
Band A - 66
Band B - 1100 (Homeless = 109)
Band C - 7835
Band D - 9419
CBL Facts and Figures
17 Months Pre
CBL
Mar 05 – July 07
17 Months Post
CBL
Aug 07 – Jan 09
2,253
484
N/A
102
Number of bids
N/A
219,229
Voids available
4,455
3,675
Homeless Applicants
Rehoused
Number of Trade Downs
CBL Myth busting
• Most homes let through CBL are given to homeless
applicants
Successful applicants by band:
Band A – 3% Regeneration
Band B - 29% Medical need and homeless
Band C - 55% Housing Need
Band D – 13% No housing need or Local connection
CBL Myth Busting
• Letting homes through CBL creates ghettos and
segregation:
Research from across the country shows that CBL helps
to develop sustainable communities as people choose
where they want to live and therefore, become part of
the community.
CBL Myth Busting
• You have a better chance of getting a home on
my estate if you are not from round here:
Over 80% of applicants housed are white British.
In addition, Landlords can create local lettings
agreements provided they can be justified legally.
The Business Case
Future Plan
• Code of Guidance Published in August
2008
• Develop WEB based system
• Bring all RSL partners on board with CBL
• Review Allocations policy
The Business Case
Future Plan
• Diversify income streams – Private
Landlord Club, Properties for Sale,
sponsorship of Web
• Complete housing options service linked
to Enhanced Housing Options Trailblazer
Question and Answer
Session