WINDRUSH ALLIANCE HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Trevor Fothergill Housing Director/CEO

Who we are

• Windrush Alliance was established as a voluntary organisation in 2003 when we lunched Lifeline Community Housing.

• We subsequently embarked on the Empty Homes Campaign and have contributed to the empty property development PATHWAY Housing Programme with a commitment to tackle empty Properties and provide affordable social housing.

Our overall Aim is to

• Working with people and places to deliver homes, economic growth and jobs

• Bring empty Properties Back into use and ensure that the are Affordable Homes and Decent Homes

• Play a key role in property and Land regeneration to develop homes for the future

WALHA• In 2011 we became a registered housing

association (WALHA) and subsequently was successful in receiving EHCGP (Empty Homes Community Grants Programme) to bring back into 30 empty properties in Nottingham

Challenges• Identify empty Properties

• Ensure a rapid – return of empty properties – avoiding high cost and running expenditure ie, refurbishment problems council tax – loss rental

• Sticking to budget• Generating additional finance• Unchartered waters – Having clear direction and navigation • Dealing with the unexpected – problem solving and ability to adapt• House clearance/garden clearance/ • Building Confidence with Landlords and Local Authority • Meeting targets and improving performances

Partnership-Partnership

Public sector – partnership Local Authority Empty Property Officer

Local authority – Empty Property Officer who will be aware of problematic empty property. Disemate information about your scheme connecting your scheme with landlords

Land Registry – Identifying Empty Properties

Local Authority Housing Option Schemes – returning the property back into use

Solutions. Partnership – Partnership – Partnership

Private – partnership Landlords Building confidence with landlords regarding time scale to return their empty property back into use and property management during the lease period.

Private – partnership with local businesses/suppliers, business opportunities – house/garden clearance (registered waste carriers)landscaping. Local Suppliers varied – value for money/lifespan

Media – press release TV, Radio, Press , and publicity

Community – Partnership/involvement, consultations and public meetings (ie ex offenders) and improving neighbourhoods

Third Sector - partnerships –

Solutions through partnership.

Synergy ‘A state in which two or more things

work together in a particularly way that produces an effect greater the sum of their individual effects’

Working in partnership with organisations with similar synergy – objectives sharing resources

• Construction Skills/Training provider• Probation Trust – Unpaid Work• YMCA Training• Colleges• Groundwork’s• CVS (Council Voluntary Services)• H.A.C.T (Information, consultancy, advice,

information)

Teiring solutions Rapid returns

• Very derelict, new windows and doors, roof, and major interior, structural construction works.

1• New central heating, electrics, kitchen,

bathroom, ground works painting and decorating throughout. Gas Safe, and Electric.

2

• Painting & decorating, wired smoke detection, bathroom extractor, GAS Safe and Electric. Groundwork's.

3

Finance • Negotiate rent free periods – depending level of

grant 3-6 months

• Encourage Landlords to contribute

• Council Tax (150%) Liability some landlords will pay

• Partnership organisation contribution (materials)

• Banks and lenders

• Property management fee –during lease period (10%)

Decent / Quality/ Safe Accommodation • Taking on empty properties with quick turn around and low cost

• Meeting the decent home standard (HCA)

• Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) DASH Accreditation • DASH aims to improve housing conditions in the private sector, with particular

emphasis on the private rented sector

• Mechanism – for bringing empty property back to market

• (professional cleaning company)

• (Allocations & Tenancy Manager)

• Local Authority Housing Option schemes•

(Maintenance and Repairs)

Successes and Opportunities * Bringing back into use on average one empty property every six weeks. So far refurbished 10 out 30 empty properties.

* Provided additional housing resources for the local authority 2-3 bedroom family homes and for single people.

* Provide a practical resource for the authority to tackle empty properties and pathway to bring these back into use for people in their area

* Skills training and job creation for over 20 people. (Enabling local people to contribute to the transformation of their neighbourhood)

* Contributed to the social and local economy through contractual work

* Presented with commercial opportunities (above shop accommodation/offices)

* Been able to develop new and creative ideas to provide practical solutions for Social housing and sustainability

* P.A.D - (Partnership accommodation developments Providing affordable housing for Families, single people, ex offenders,

QUESTIONS?