CWAG AGM 19 September 2014 Delegation of Statutory Functions

Shane Whitehead Strategic Landlord Manager

Ascham Homes

10 year ‘Modern ALMO’ Management Agreement 2012 Manages 12,000 properties 10,000 tenanted 2,000 leasehold 1. Delivery of Waltham Forest Standard (Decent Homes Plus) by 2019 2. Transfer of Housing Solutions Service

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1. Housing Solutions Service

Statutory Functions Part 7 Housing Act 1996 – Homelessness Homelessness Act 2002 – Homelessness Strategy Homelessness Rough Sleeping Housing Options Choice Based Lettings/Allocations/Nominations Temporary Accommodation Homelessness Strategy and Initiatives Support for Elderly and Vulnerable

Strategic reasons for transfer of service

• Seamless housing service provision • One stop shop • Better communications • Savings

Evaluation

Project Officer / Work streams Joint meetings Collaboration Spirit of partnership working New Management Agreement - 10 th DCLG Approval Cabinet report Schedule

Key Considerations

Split between HRA / General Fund activities Service Budget £2.8m TA Budget £18.6m

Terms and Conditions of Employment Relationship between Housing Solutions and LBWF service teams Performance Management

Wider Benefits / Problems / Tips

Maturing relationship Use of Reserves (HRA/GF) Selective Licensing Homelessness Demand/Cost of Service Flexibility Annual Report

Financial Considerations

Management of the HRA/GF Long-term Planning / 3 Year Methodology for agreeing the Management Fee Savings to HRA/GF?

Direct / Indirect Costs for GF and HRA Volatile TA Budget / Risk

2. Lettings Waltham Forest

A social lettings agency, replacing the rent deposit scheme Created in 2012 NFA Award 2014 ‘Improving the Private Rented Sector Offer’ Category Three tier service for private sector landlords: 1) Tenant Finder 2) Tenant Finder and Rent Collection 3) Full Management Service

Objectives

Localism Act 2012 – power to discharge an accepted housing duty into the private sector Provide a source of properties for people threatened with homelessness or accepted as homeless.

Reduce the cost of temporary accommodation Generate income

Benefits to Landlord

Guaranteed rent – we will pay the rent regardless of whether the tenant pays.

Property Improvements – will contact the Empty Properties Team for grant funding

Benefits to Resident

Speed, avoiding the need for a long stay in temporary accommodation Properties are local, providing stability for schools, family and employment

Outcomes 2013/14

New lettings 171 Units in Management 110 Self help tenancies 84 ‘True loss’ per unit £27.77

Rent collection level 94.8% Voids 0.05%

Finance

Paid for by General Fund Estimated fee income 2014/15 - £1.7m

Aim to have the ‘true loss’ per unit lower than a comparative property in temporary accommodation Not self-financing

The Future?

Strategic review 2014 Continue to focus on local housing provision?

Difficult to procure units locally within the LHA rates Rising private rental market A self-financing model Longer term leasing products