Housing Benefit Reform – Private Sector Housing

Janeine BarrettNorth Ayrshire Council

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Housing Benefit Reform Outcomes Partnership working Communication Strategy Private Landlords Incentives Discussion

Changes to LHA

Applied change from 1st April `11< 35’s (single room rates)Loss of excess paymentsReduction in LHA New Cap levels of LHA5 bed rate reduced to 4 bed rateReduction for non-dependants

Outcomes 100% landlords cognisant with change 100% tenants aware of impact Rents brought down to affordable levels Identification of clients at risk of homelessness Implementation of Housing Options Robust and consistent response across SW HUB Facilitation of moves between landlords/across

tenures

Outcomes Minimise impact – Social

networks/employment/education Web based advice and information will be

displayed across all LA HUB’s Development of select and match flat sharing

opportunities across all 5 local authorities A reduction in rent arrears and housing benefit

overpayments across the hub Prevention of homelessness

PartnersSouth West HUB - 5 Local Authorities - Landlords - Landlord registration

- Finance section - Housing options / advice staff

- Private Sector teams- Voluntary sector advice teams- Welfare benefit/debt advice staff

- RDS scheme’s / letting agents- Job centre plus- Voluntary orgs and support staff

Communication StrategyCommunication StrategyGuidance for : All partner agencies Private landlords Private sector tenants Front line staff

Inter agency agreement to ensure consistent approach: - Include information sharing - Shared approach - Responsibilities - Outcomes - Targets - Measures

Private landlords / Tenants

Get them on Board Registration/Finance Initial guidance drop Landlord forums / events Target letting agents Calculation for current tenants Series of meetings with individual landlords Incentives

IncentivesIncentives Access to Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme’s (for

landlords willing to negotiate rent levels)- Paperwork- Permissions- Guidance / advice- Robust select and match process- Extended duration of guarantee's

Direct payment to landlordsAccess to support provisionOther incentives as identified by landlords during

process

Discussion

Over to you- How can we prevent homelessness?- Who should be doing this work?- What can we do jointly?- What are the barriers?- What are the solutions?