EUKN - United Kingdom - Opening New Doors – Lessons on Best Practice in Tackling Private Sector Disrepair

Opening New Doors – Lessons on Best Practice in Tackling Private Sector Disrepair

Introduction

A booklet of three case studies tackling private sector disrepair through initiatives funded by the Regrional Housing Board. It signposts the main issues housing practitioners will need to address to achieve the government’s ‘decent homes’ target in the private sector

Problem

The decent homes programme was extended in 2002 to help vulnerable people who own homes or rent from private landlords. The target is for at least 70% of vulnerable households in the private sector to live in decent homes by 2010.

A decent home meets current statutory minimum standards for housing, is in a reasonable state of repair, has reasonably modern facilities, services and thermal comfort.

Vulnerable households are those who have little capacity to change their housing due to insufficient income, illness or disability. Ethnic minorities make up a disproportionate number.

Description

A booklet of three case studies tackling private sector disrepair through initiatives funded by the Regional Housing Board. It signposts the main issues housing practitioners need to address to achieve the government’s ‘decent homes’ target in the private sector. Targets are set to ensure that at least 70% of vulnerable households in the private sector live in decent homes by 2010.

The region has initiated loan products for homeownwers to make repairs, schemes to promote decency standards to landlord accreditation and licensing schemes. Work has been done with home inprovement agencies. Good practice has been publicised to help local authorities.

Approach

Each case study took an individual approach. There are four main methods of assistance used:

Loans – local authorities can offer financial assistance but require a contribution form the property owner. Borrowers’ ability to repay should be considered, however.
Grants can be issued where appropriate.
Packages of loan and grant – in Wirral and Sefton, owners are offered 50% grant and 50% loan for home improvements.
Where a person’s home is clearly unsuitable, purchase and relocation can be supported.

Results

Bolton: choice of intervention is key to ensure improvements are undertaken. The ‘pick up a property’ initiative (empty houses were bought and then sol was very successful.

Knowsley: accurate and updated information is key to improving private homes. Group, rather than individual, repair schemes were most successful and attracted grants of up to £20,000.

Lancaster: Housing tenure was transformed in Morecambe. Private owners were more willing to undertake repairs. However, local housing prices have rocketed. There has been a change in the housing market where shared ownership of houses is going to previous private sector tenants.

Beneficiaries

The environment and residents

Resources used

Funding from the Regional Housing Board.

Partners:

Bolton at Home,
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council,
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council,
Knowsley Housing Trust,
Lancaster City Council,
English Partnerships,
Adactus Housing Association.

Contact info

RENEW Northwest
info@RENEW.co.uk

Project start date

//2007

Links

Visit the RENEW Northwest website

Download the 'Opening New Doors – Lessons on Best Practice in Tackling Private Sector Disrepair' Report (PDF, Eng, 638 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing policy

Keywords

Social housing, Private rented housing