Somerset Care & Repair:Seizing New Opportunities

Rural Housing Plus

Kevin Lake

Director

• Successful in two bids totalling £1.46M

• Working in South Somerset and Mendip District Council areas

Largest town is Yeovil population of 40,000Other townsWells – 11,340Shepton Mallet - 9027

• 2,500 registered empty homes in South Somerset 1000 over six months empty

• 1441 empty properties in Mendip

The First Property

• The Gate HouseSuperintendents house looking after the cemetery

Local volunteers cleared the cemetery but didn’t know what to do with the house.

Bad history with abuse and drugs.

• Put in planning to convert to two flats.

Last minute someone listed it.

The First Property

Penfield

Fir Tree Cottage

Milford Inn

Milford the story so far:

1. Purchased it in April 2014

2. First issue was the LA wanted to charge us £34,101 towards sports, arts and leisure.

3. VO report - £309.00

4. Topographical survey - £714.00

Fifty Shades of Grey

The Pain

• Conservation Officers, Planning Officers and Ecological Officers• The addition cost of £90,000 to get on site in Benedict Street and Milford.• £12,000 lost rental income due to delays on Benedict Street and a further

£18,000 lost due to delays on Milford.• Tribal – same language, different meanings.

The Pleasure

• We have brought back into use 32 properties providing accommodation for those in greatest housing need. (those who private landlords and Housing associations prefer not to deal with)

• Tribal – Have been helpful, understanding, flexible and supportive• Local Authority support – £110,000 of grant funding to date + additional

£100,000 of capital to carry on in South Somerset in next financial year.• Training for people on probation, homeless hostel, prison, Restore Trust,

Tribal (education and training)• Success has led to the possibility of a further £300,000 to undertake work in

other district areas.