Private Renting A Tenure of Choice

1. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Simon Rose Housing Needs Manager Simon.rose@newport.gov.uk Tel: 01633 232588

2. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Newport Story April 2007 – Around 50 or more households in B&B including families High number of homeless presentations Huge overspends Social Housing demand excessive Little choice or option left Legacy case programme

3.  Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice?  Spend to save approach RSL assistance Development of PSL scheme – May 2008 Use of ‘surplus’ private rented housing Incentives to landlords Ongoing involvement Links with Housing Benefit Selling the option

4. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Positive results? No families placed in B&B from August 2007 Over 140 private rented sector tenancies established (through spend to save) Landlords approaching with properties Private rented voids?? Customers asking to be placed in private accommodation A number of tenancies still running 2 years later

5. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Help needed – too big to manage in house Bid for WAG funding January 2008 Approach to Charter Housing (Charter Options) Development of scheme Linkage to existing spend to save process Link to existing bond scheme Link to empty homes Current numbers – 15 units and growing

6. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Where next? Sub regional model developed WAG bid submitted Extended incentive package to landlords Link to the bond scheme across the regions Combined resource to tackle need Other options?

7. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Key issues Understand customer demands and needs Adjustable scheme and options Keep to the undertakings and be realistic Ensure Housing Benefit are engaged with the scheme Ensure other agencies are aware of the options/choices Not a scheme to divert problems Be prepared to invest

8. Private Renting – A Tenure of Choice? Other contacts: Andrea Gale Charter Housing Association Tel – 01633 212375 andrea.gale@charterhousing.co.uk