Purpose

To
accept additional funding from the LAHF (Local Authority Housing
Fund) of £1,198,620 and agree to use this money, together
with borrowing, to purchase 6 additional homes.  These will initially be used for two purposes, 2
properties to accommodate refugees from a recognised scheme and 4
properties to be used for temporary accommodation. In the longer
term these will all revert to general needs HRA housing
stock.
 
It is a
condition of funding that two of the properties acquired under this
scheme are initially used to rehouse people who are refugees from a
recognised government scheme. The Council will ask the Strategic
Migration Partnership, or other similar agencies, for nominations
for these homes.
 
As
properties become available, if there are no eligible refugees at
that time, and to avoid properties remaining empty, it is proposed
to give the Head of Housing authority to use the property for wider
housing needs on either a temporary basis or to substitute with a
council property at a later stage.  The
latter option will only be considered in exceptional
circumstances.
 
The
properties that are for temporary accommodation will be let
directly by the Housing Needs team to reduce the use of expensive
temporary bed & breakfast accommodation, and to avoid placing
families in unsuitable accommodation,   
 
Although the properties acquired under this scheme are initially
for use by refugees or as temporary accommodation, in the longer
term the properties will be part of the HRA general needs housing
stock.  It is proposed to give power to
the Head of Housing to determine when each property transfers to
general needs use but this determination needs to take account of
the housing needs of refugees and demand for temporary
accommodation.
 
The
Council has previously received around £ 14.5m to purchase 85
homes under previous rounds of LAHF funding.

Content

To
accept this offer of funding, and to acquire a total of 6
additional homes.

Reasons for the decision

This
offer allows the Council to increase its stock numbers to partially
meet the demand from refugees, and for temporary
accommodation.

Alternative options considered

Options
1 – Not to accept this funding
Reason
for Rejection – This opportunity is beneficial to the Council
as it will increase the Council’s housing stock in the longer
term. There is also a growing need for temporary accommodation and
accommodation for refugees to which the Council is likely to have a
responsibility to help rehouse.  The
Council is well set up to acquire the additional homes, as it
already has the skills and expertise in-house through working with
Ermine Street Housing and officers within its New Build
Team.