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Engagement and Enforcement Team: Tackling Serious ASB, Nuisance, and Hoarding

The Engagement and Enforcement Team (EET) of Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) aims to de-escalate cases of serious ASB, nuisance, and hoarding by providing intensive intervention, engaging with PHP and support agencies, sustaining tenancies, and taking prompt legal action if necessary.

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Engagement and Enforcement Team: Tackling Serious ASB, Nuisance, and Hoarding

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  1. LeslyCurtisEngagement and Enforcement Team (EET)Poole Housing Partnership

  2. Role of Engagement and Enforcement Team • Serious ASB / Nuisance • Hoarding / Property condition • Maximum 30 cases across two officers • Managed by in-house Solicitor

  3. EET Criteria • High Priority case • Frequent incidents • Significant risk of harm to either party • High impact on HM function • Risk to mental / physical health • No real engagement with PHP • No real engagement with support agencies

  4. Aims • Intensive intervention • De-escalate • Engage with PHP • Engage with support • Sustain tenancy • Move to more suitable accommodation • Take prompt and effective legal action

  5. Hoarding

  6. Background • PHP is an ALMO who manage Poole Borough Council housing stock • This consists of 4,481 properties • 3,221 General Needs properties • 567 Leasehold properties • 1,260 Sheltered Housing and extra care

  7. The Figures • Sheltered Housing - 1,260 properties – 7 Hoarders known • General Needs – 3,221 properties – 29 Hoarders known • Other Authorities estimate the average cost of an individual case to be £35,000 • This means the current cost to PHP and partner agencies could potentially exceed £1.25 million

  8. Your tab or mine? Who pays the cost? The Tenant, Agencies or Housing?

  9. Why is Hoarding an Issue? • Increases risk of fire • Impedes fire and rescue services • Compromises the health and safety of others– particularly in blocks of flats where fire / infestations can spread • Impacts on tenants health and wellbeing • Increases risk of harm to the tenant / household members • Increases likelihood of structural damage to properties / unreported repairs / non-access or neglect of the property • Devalues our asset • Clearance /repairs to the void property incur significant costs

  10. Tools • Non-legal interventions • Meetings / case conference • Verbal warning • Written warning • Action plan • Contract of Expectations • Referral ( DFRS ,Support, Sustain, ASC, CYPSC, CMHT, HCS)

  11. Define roles and expectations • Be honest (legal action is a possibility) • Provide appropriate information from outset • What do they want – longer term • How much can they do? • Don’t use the threat of eviction as a negotiation tool, but don’t discount it as a possible outcome • Starting is the hard part • Keep checking how they feel • Identify ‘treasures’ • Dispel the ‘re-use’ argument • Recognise & reward results • Support the person through the trauma of change

  12. Hoarders • 18 women • 12 men • 3 Couples – no children living in the home • 1 couple with two children • 1 x 2 sisters • 1 family consisting of Mum, daughter and granddaughter (questionable Hoarding)

  13. Legal intervention • Extension of introductory tenancy • Injunction • Possession

  14. What dowe do? • Follow a written procedure created to ensure consistency • Use a home condition assessment and hoarding questionnaire • Identify and involve other agencies • Ensure consistency and continuity by use of a structured action plan to keep staff and tenant focused on the aims • Implement an intensive work pattern – with weekly visits by support workers and enforcement officer • Adopt a hands on approach when needed to motivate and encourage • Use “normative” approach rather than “instrumental control” • Think outside of the box

  15. Single Male SPO Before After

  16. Couple - clearance and support Before After

  17. Results so far • 12 out of 49 EET cases (25%) Hoarding/ Property condition • None evicted • 1 Suspended Possession Order (by consent) – which is working well • 2 were rehoused – smaller / more suitable accommodation / supported • 2 resolved with verbal/ written warnings with no further support • 3 engaging and making good progress with support • 3 properties returned to satisfactory condition and being monitored • i.e. 50% either engaged and returned property to satisfactory condition or are well on the way to doing so with support • Only 1 not engaging

  18. Contact details l.curtis@poole.gov.uk 01202 264416

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