190 likes | 289 Views
Modelling the Abolition of the Priority Need Test. Dr. Andrew Waugh. Overview. Legislative Changes & Key Questions Arising The Model & Using HL1 Data A Case Study Authority Impact of Abolition Combined Measures Conclusions. Legislative Changes. Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
E N D
Modelling the Abolition of the Priority Need Test Dr. Andrew Waugh
Overview • Legislative Changes & Key Questions Arising • The Model & Using HL1 Data • A Case Study Authority • Impact of Abolition • Combined Measures • Conclusions
Legislative Changes • Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 • Temporary Accommodation for all homeless households until discharge of duty • Permanent accommodation • Modernised Right to Buy • Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 • Extension then abolition of the priority need test. • Power replaces duty to investigate intentionality • Suspension of the local connection provision.
Key Questions • What is the impact of implementing the abolition of the priority need test on: • Number of temporary accommodation places needed • Time spent in temporary accommodation • Number and proportion of lets required by homeless households • Method of abolition? • Big Bang: 31st December 2012 • 2 Stage: 31 March 2009 & 31st December 2012 • Gradual: from 31st December 2005. • Type of accommodation required?
applications Temporary accommodation lets A Dynamic Model: Overview • The number of households • The flow of households to different tenures + homelessness
Important Factors • Homelessness Applications • Method of Abolition • Households in the Homelessness System (~Temporary Accommodation) • Time spent in the homelessness system • Supply of lets in the Social Rented Sector • LA and RSL right to buy rates • Termination Rates
? Lets ? Lets ? Lets ASSDATE APPDATE CLOSDATE A Dynamic Model: Homeless Households OUTCOME Awaiting Assessment Priority Need Non-Priority Need ASSESS
Terminations A Dynamic Model: Supply • Change in # of Tenants = New Build + Relets -Terminations –RTB • Change in Voids = Terminations-Relets -Demolitions • Change in Stock = New Build – RTB-Demolitions • Maximum Supply = New Build +Terminations • Actual Supply = New Build + Relets
Terminations per Annum • Terminations available to new tenants (excludes transfers) • 2003/4 2017/18 • LA: 520 380 • RSL: 160 170 • Total: 720 550
The Effect of Abolition (1): Lettings 2003/4 • c. 160 LA lets (25%) • c. 15 RSL lets (10%) 2017/18 • c. 160 LA lets (42%) • c. 35 RSL lets (20%)
The Effect of Abolition (2): Households in the System • An extra 70 households from abolition • An extra 20 households from declining supply • 90 in total
The Effect of Abolition (3): Time Spent in the System • Total Household Days in the system = number of households x time spent in system • c 9.6k in 2003/4 • c 11k to 17k 2011/12 • c 23.8k 2017/18 • Increase in p/n households • Longer time
The Effect of Abolition: Summary • A growing proportion of lets to homeless households, even if number remains the same. • A marked increase in households in the system + therefore in temporary accommodation. • A marked increase in the time households spend there. • Impact on Council’s ability to meet wider housing needs + implications for broader social issues
Proactive Approaches • Reduce applications and /or increase lets • Reduce applications – homelessness prevention work • Increase Lets to Homeless Households • Section 5 Referrals to RSLs • Increase rate of RSL new build • Reduce the RSL / LA RTB rate • Increase the number of LA lets to homeless
Proactive Approaches: Impact • No single measure is sufficient to meet the increase in homelessness in case study authority • A combination of measures are needed. • Scenario A – only increase lets to homeless households • 211 (55%) of LA lets • 31 (18%) of RSL lets • Scenario E • Increase LA & RSL lets • Increase rate of new build in 2003-2008 to 200 units pa. • Reduce LA RTB rate from 3.1% to 2% • Reduce applications to 800 pa
Conclusions • The abolition of the priority need test will lead to: • More households in temporary accommodation • Households spending longer in Temporary Accommodation • Proactive approaches are needed if the impact of abolition is to be reduced • A combination of measures are required. • Reduce applications • Increase total supply of lets • Increase number and proportion of lets to homeless households