Content

Salford
City Council - Record of Decision
 
 
I, Councillor Tracy Kelly,
Statutory Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing &
Anti-poverty, in exercise of the powers contained within the
Council Constitution, do hereby:
 

Approve the amendments to the Private Sector Housing
Assistance Policy 2023, as detailed in the report. 
 
The Reasons
are:
Since approval of the policy in April 2023, some minor
amendments are proposed which aim to address any ambiguity in how
the policy is applied, ensuring fairness and transparency for all.
As funding is limited and the service has a high demand there is a
need to tighten up the wording in the policy to make it clear that
the policy concerns private sector residents and properties, as
intended in its title, Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy
(PSHAP).
 
Options considered and rejected were:
Take
no action –This option is not considered appropriate, the
changes are required to manage customer expectations.
 
Assessment of Risk:
Low – all financial
assistance provided as grant with conditions will be secured by way
of a Legal Charge on the property title and repayable to the
Council.
 
The
source of funding:
Grant funding is approved from
the Place, capital programme.
 
Legal Advice
obtained: Supplied by Tony Hatton                  
Dated: 03/12/2024
The
Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order
2002 requires Councils to publish a policy if it wishes to provide
assistance in a range of areas related to private sector housing.
The proposed amendments to the policy sets out with greater clarity
the process for considering the award of financial assistance which
the Council wishes to offer for residents living in the city, and
all grants are protected by way of a repayable legal charge being
placed on the property.
 
The
review undertaken and proposed changes are consistent with the
guidance to the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and
Wales) Order 2002, including extensive consultation with
stakeholders.
 
Financial Advice
obtained: Supplied by Karen Wilcha         
Dated: 4th December 2024
The
proposal to provide direct financial assistance in the form of the
Council’s Grant funding with conditions is to support
residents living in the private sector who meet the eligibility
criteria as outlined in the PSHAP 2023.
 
The
Council will only make a Grant available where it is satisfied that
the applicant is unable to access any commercially available loan
product in order to fund the required improvement/repair
works.
 
Where the eligibility criteria
is not met “Support by exception” will apply on a case
by case basis for example, individuals/applicants who
have:-
·        
life limiting / terminal illness
·        
applicants identified as member of the armed
services, veterans and their families who may also require
support.
 
Grant funding is approved from the
Place, capital programme.
 
The Council’s Grant
funding will be secured by way of a Legal Charge to be granted to
the Council over the property. The charge will be secured until
such a time as the property is sold or there is a change in
ownership.
 
Procurement Implications: N/A
 
HR
Implications: N/A
No additional
staffing implications
 
Climate Change
Implications: N/A
 
Contact Officer:
Caren Green     Tel: 0161 793 2835            
Email: caren.green@salford.gov.uk
 
 
This decision is not subject to
consideration by another Lead Member.
 
The appropriate scrutiny panel
to call-in the decision is the Community & Neighbourhoods
Scrutiny Panel.
 
 

 
Signed: Councillor Tracy Kelly                                         
Date: 13th May
2025
Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing &
Anti-Poverty
 

 
This decision was published on 14th May 2025.

 
This decision will come into force at 4.00pm on 21st
May 2025, unless it is called-in
in accordance with the decision-making process rules.