Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy
The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales)
Order 2002 came into force on 18 July 2002. The Order repealed much
of the then current prescriptive legislation governing the
provision of grants etc. for the renewal of private sector housing,
and replaced it with a new wide-ranging power to provide
“assistance” for housing renewal.
The Order provided local authorities with a much greater degree
of flexibility in devising a policy to deal with poor condition
private sector housing, both in terms of the policy tools available
to them, and in terms of their ability to work in partnership with
others.
“Assistance” may be given for:
- The repair, improvement and adaptation of housing.
- The demolition of a dwelling and help with rebuilding
costs.
- The acquisition of alternative accommodation under specified
circumstances, namely where the authority proposes to purchase the
existing accommodation or where the provision of alternative
accommodation represents a better benefit to repairing, improving
or adapting the existing property.
“Assistance” may be given directly or provided through a third
party.
The Process
In devising this policy consideration has been given to the
following wider strategic objectives –
- At a national level – Best Value, the UK Fuel
Poverty Strategy, Supporting People, Planning Policy Guidance for
Housing, and Housing Market Renewal.
- At a regional level – the Regional Housing
Statement, the strategic aims and objectives of the Regional
Development Agency (RDA), and Regional Planning Policy
Guidance.
- At a local level – the Community Plan,
neighborhood renewal, regeneration and social inclusion, crime and
disorder, social care and health, equal opportunities and
diversity, fuel poverty and energy efficiency, and planning and
land use.
To identify local issues, needs and expectations the following
information has been used –
- The results of the 2001/02 Borough-wide Private Sector House
Condition Survey.
- The results of the 2005/06 Borough-wide Housing Needs
Survey.
- Knowledge and understanding of the local housing market.
- Details of the prevailing social and economic conditions,
including fuel poverty.
- Profiles of the age and health of the local population.
- Data indicating demographic changes and trends.
When considering how best to deliver the key outcomes of the new
policy, the authority has looked critically at existing
partnerships and explored the potential to engage with new and
varied partners.
As appropriate, the policy is –
- Client Based – Driven by the needs of a
particular client group, for example, the disabled, the elderly,
the infirm or other vulnerable people.
- Area Based – Driven by the need to improve a
well-defined and discrete group of houses, for example, the
Stanhope Estate.
- Property Based – Driven by the need to improve
certain types of property, for example, system-built houses.
- Sector Based – Driven by the need to improve,
for example, the private rented sector.
- Theme Based – Driven by the need to tackle or
support, for example, fuel poverty and energy efficiency, security
or crime prevention initiatives, home accident prevention, and
hospital discharge initiatives.
Important Protections
In order to give protection to those who are given “assistance”,
whatever form that “assistance” takes, the Order required
authorities to –
- Set out in writing the terms and conditions under which
“assistance” is being given.
- Be satisfied, before giving “assistance”, that the person
concerned has received appropriate advice or information about the
extent and nature of any obligation (financial or otherwise) that
they will be taking on.
- Have regard, before making a loan, or requiring repayment of a
loan or grant, to the ability of the person concerned to afford to
make a contribution or repayment.
Adoption of the Policy
The policy has been –
- Formally adopted by the authority.
- Subject to public notice.
The policy is –
- Available for inspection, free of charge, at all reasonable
times, at the Civic Centre.
- Available as a summary, by post.
- Available as a summary, on the authority’s web-site.
Monitoring and Revising the Policy
Regular monitoring of the policy against performance targets,
together with the broader aims and objectives of the policy, is
undertaken. This is achieved through, amongst other measures,
customer consultation work such as focus groups, and customer
satisfaction surveys. Also, regular update stock condition and
housing needs surveys are undertaken (resources permitting), and
the circumstances of local housing markets, demographic trends and
socio-economic factors are evaluated.
Where significant changes to the policy need to be made they are
reported to Members for adoption and subsequent publication. Minor
changes, which do not affect the broad thrust of policy direction,
are accommodated without a formal re-adoption process.
View the Policy
Private Sector House Condition Survey
View the Private
Sector House Condition Survey Executive Summary - 119Kb
PDF
View the Private Sector
House Condition Survey Full Report - 660Kb PDF
Empty Homes
Ashford Borough Council is signed up to the Kent Wide Empty
Homes Initiative and it is possible to report an empty home by
visiting the No Use
Empty website.
This webpage was updated on
10/4/2010