www.islington.gov.uk/housing
Housing strategy
Action plan 2014-2019
Housing Strategy Action Plan 2014-19
Priority 1: Increase supply and choice
Action
A. Deliver new affordable homes
1. Deliver 2000 affordable homes
including:
- 1500 for social rent
- up to 500 new council
homes
2. Deliver a mix of small and
family sized homes to meet
housing needs, including
overcrowded families and
people who are looking to
downsize
3. Ensure new homes meet
national and regional housing
space and design standards
4.
Lead council
service area(s)
Key external
partners
Timescale Outcome, target, milestones
Housing Needs
and Strategy –
Housing
Development
and
Regeneration
Registered
Providers
2015-2019
Number of new affordable homes delivered – reported
annually
2015-2019
Annual monitoring report of tenure mix and size of homes
2014-2019
100% of all new affordable homes to meet at least level 4 of
Code for Sustainable Homes. This will be monitored annually
against planning permission and affordable housing
completions data.
GLA
Planning and
Development
Finance
Public Health
Support Registered Providers
(RPs) in the development of
social rented homes to
maximise affordability
B. Bring existing homes back into use
Housing Needs
1. Targeted work to bring empty
and Strategy –
homes back into use
Private
2014-2019
Health impact assessments to be carried out for larger
developments
70% of new affordable homes to be for social rent - reported
annually
New Homes Bonus and Right to Buy (one for one) receipts
to support delivery of homes for social rent: number of units
and grant per unit
Registered
Providers
Annual
100 long term empty homes brought back into use per
annum
Action
Lead council
service area(s)
Housing
Partnerships
Key external
partners
Property
owners
Timescale Outcome, target, milestones
Registered
Providers
Annual
Finance
(Council Tax)
Public
Protection Residential
Environmental
Health
2.
Work with partners to tackle
housing fraud and illegal
occupation
Housing
Operations
(Housing
Investigations
Team)
C. Make better use of existing homes to enable greater choice and mobility
1. Assist existing social housing
Housing Needs
Registered
Annual
tenants to downsize and
and Strategy –
Providers
release larger homes for
Housing Options
overcrowded and other families
GLA
in housing need
2.
Assist with reduction of
overcrowding in social housing
Housing Needs
Registered
and Strategy –
Providers
Housing Options
Average of 100 homes per year recovered for letting to
families in housing need
Target to be set annually: 2014/15 = 250
Annual
Minimum of 180 households to be assisted (Annual target
subject to review)
Annual
250 mutual exchanges per year (Annual target subject to
review)
Housing
Operations
3.
Promote our mutual exchange
and mobility schemes to help
Housing Needs
and Strategy –
Registered
Providers
Action
people to move
Lead council
Key external
service area(s) partners
Housing Options
D. Supporting employment through development
1. Create apprenticeships or jobs
Housing Needs
through new housing
and Strategy –
Housing
developments
Development
2. Increase housing employment
and
opportunities for Islington
Regeneration
residents
Housing
Contractors
Timescale Outcome, target, milestones
2014-19
Minimum of 1 apprenticeship or job per £1M contract value
(Annual report)
Number of jobs advertised by contractors and filled by
Islington residents (Annual report)
City and
Islington and
other
colleges/higher
education and
training
providers
E. Improve management standards, housing quality and choice in the private rented sector
1. Develop and implement a new
Housing Needs
Private
Jan 2015
New strategy and action plan launched
Private Sector Housing
and Strategy Landlords
Strategy
Private Housing Forum
Partnerships
Private Sector
Tenants Group
Public
Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
2. Promote high standards
Islington
Annual
Landlords Forum – 3 times per year
amongst landlords and
Housing Group
Public Health
managing agents
Number of private sector homes improved per year through
Council action
Private
Landlords
Increased number and percentage of accredited landlords
(LLAS)
3.
Take robust action against
rogue landlords and lettings
Housing Needs
and Strategy -
NLA
Annual
Number and type of complaints received and resolved
(Annual report)
Action
agents
Lead council
service area(s)
Private Housing
Partnerships
Key external
partners
Shelter
Timescale Outcome, target, milestones
Number of Category 1 hazards removed per year through
Council action
Public
Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
4.
Explore viability of setting up a
social lettings agency
Housing Needs
and Strategy Private Housing
Partnerships
Public
Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
Private
landlords
Oct 2014
Business case completed
Lettings
agents
July 2015
SLA established subject to approval of Council Executive
Annual
Annual report grants approved and completed
March
2014
Telephone number published on Council website
Tenants
Finance
5.
Subject to availability of
funding, manage a grants
programme to help improve
housing standards in the
private sector
Housing
Operations
Public
Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
Residents and
landlords
Voluntary
Sector
Finance
6.
Establish a single point of
contact for private sector
tenants
Housing Needs
and Strategy Private Housing
Action
Lead council
service area(s)
Partnerships
7.
Public
Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
Assess feasibility for additional
licensing of HMOs
Key external
partners
Timescale Outcome, target, milestones
Dec 2014
Feasibility study completed
Community
Safety
F. Make home ownership affordable to people on low to middle incomes
1. Assist social housing tenants to Housing Needs
Registered
2014-19
explore alternative home
and Strategy Providers
ownership options
Housing Options
GLA
2. Support first time buyers and
Housing Needs
other households to get on the
and Strategy property ladder
Housing Options
Number of additional council homes available to let to
families in housing need per annum
Number of new homes built for shared ownership
Number of households in target income groups assisted into
low cost home ownership schemes
Priority 2: Well managed and well maintained places to live
Action
Lead council
Key partners
service Area(s)
A. Help residents into work and mitigate the impact of welfare reform
Timescale
Outcome, target or milestones
1.
2014-19
Monitor the number of referrals made
and outcomes, including number of
tenants assisted into work and/or
training schemes
Establish job referral pathways for
unemployed tenants
2.
Proactively support tenants impacted
by welfare reform
3.
Work with partner agencies to provide
advice and access to employment and
training opportunities
Housing Operations
– Income
Management
Islington Alliance
Housing Needs and
Strategy – Housing
Options and
Solutions
City and Islington and
other colleges/higher
education and
training providers
Registered Providers
100% of all households impacted by
welfare reform identified and contacted
(subject to changes rolled out)
Income
Maximisation Team
Monitor the number of tenants /
residents assisted or signposted per
year
Welfare Response
Team
B. Well managed and maintained council owned homes and estates
1.
2.
3.
Maintain the inside of our homes to a
good standard by ensuring they are
safe and meet the current and future
needs of residents
Maintain the outside of our homes to a
good standard by ensuring they are
wind and water tight, safe, durable and
accessible
Maintain communal areas within our
estates to a good standard
Housing Property
Services
Housing Operations
Contractors
Specialist
advisors/consultants
2014-19
30 year Asset Management Strategy
and 7 year Asset Management Plan
updated annually
Delivery of annual housing capital
programme
Housing Operations
Bring day to day repairs services back
under direct council control
Quarterly progress monitoring of Estate
inspections
4.
5.
Ensure our homes are well managed
by regularly reviewing and
benchmarking our services and setting
performance standards and targets
Housing Operations
2014-19
Work with other local providers and/or
managers of social housing to promote
high quality housing management
standards
Housing Needs and
Strategy – Housing
Partnerships and
Communities
TMOs
Housing Operations
Registered Providers
STAR Satisfaction surveys
Quarterly benchmarking
2014-19
Partners for
Improvement
Number and nature of complaints
received and outcomes reviewed
annually
Contractual performance indicators
Audits and inspections
HCA regulatory reports
Resident satisfaction with services
received
C. Deliver efficiency savings and exploring ways to maximise income
1.
Identify and deliver VFM service
improvements
2.
Identify and implement robust
procurement processes that deliver
quality and VFM services
Ensure our online housing services are
easily accessible to encourage more
resident independence
3.
Housing Operations
Housing Executive
Housing
Partnerships and
Communities
Partners
Housing Property
Services
Residents
2014-19
Service plan and annual performance
review
VFM assessments and audit reports
TMOs and TRAs
Number of services available on-line for
residents
% of and/or number of residents who
self-serve
Level of resident satisfaction with
services
Number and type of complaints about
housing services
4.
Explore opportunities for generating
extra income
Housing Needs and
Strategy
Housing Executive
Service plan and annual performance
review
TMOs and TRAs
Housing Operations
VFM assessment and audit reports
Partners
Property and
Procurement
D. Resident engagement making a real difference to housing services
1.
Ensure resident engagement
arrangements are reflective of local
community
Housing Needs and
Strategy - Housing
Partnerships and
Communities
Resident Groups
% increase in income achieved through
new initiatives
2014-19
TMOs and TRAs
Annual report on TMO performance and
support
Partners
2.
Support and monitoring existing TMOs
in the delivery of housing services
Housing Operations
TMO Co-ordination
team
3.
Annual monitoring report on resident
engagement
June 2014
Resident Engagement Strategy –
development, implementation and
review
2014-19
Number and % of cases open and
closed
Ensure feedback on all housing
service consultations
E. Create safer neighbourhoods
1.
Continue to reduce levels of ASB and
work with communities to resolve local
problems
Housing Operations
Partners
Community Safety
TMOs and TRAs
Housing Needs and
Strategy - Housing
Partnerships and
Communities
Registered Providers
Number of ASB incidents per ward
2.
Work with residents and others to
ensure better and more effective use
of CCTV
Police
Reduction in levels of reported crime
and ASB
Increase in numbers of people who feel
safe in their neighbourhood
Number of successful prosecutions
using CCTV
3.
Encourage more intelligent use of
street and estate lighting to create
safer and clearer routes within and
through estates
Housing Operations
5.
Develop and implement initiatives for
improving estates
Develop communal and play areas and
make best use of community centres
2014-19
Reduction in levels of reported crime
and ASB
Community Safety
Registered Providers
Housing Property
Services
4.
Police – Secured by
Design
Housing Needs and
Strategy – Housing
Development and
Regeneration
Increase in numbers of people who feel
safe in their neighbourhood
TMOs and TRAs
Housing Capital Programme – delivery
of new initiatives as part of the Asset
Management Strategy
Delivery of resident-led improvements,
including initiatives to address ASB and
fear of crime, improve CC provision and
play space, alongside building new
homes on council estates
% increase in use of community centres
and play spaces
Priority 3: Improve health and wellbeing
ACTION
Lead council
service(s)
Key partners
Timescale
Outcome, target, milestones
Housing Property
Services
Registered
Providers
2014-19
2014/15 - fund the replacement of
400 older boilers in private sector
homes
Public Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
Energy
Companies
A. Reduce fuel poverty and help with the cost of healthy living
1.
Insulate homes to improve the
energy efficiency of buildings and
replace older less energy efficient
boilers
% increase in council-owned homes
that have a EPC rating of C or above
ECO contractors
Increase in average SAP ratings
(Annual Measure)
Planning and
Development
Public Realm –
Energy Services
Public Health
2.
Provide advice and support with fuel
debt relief and help to reduce fuel
poverty through home and budget
management training
Public Realm –
SHINE
4.
Promote Warm Home Discount and
vulnerable energy customer
registers
Promote collective energy switching
schemes and assisted switching
programmes
2014-19
Number of SHINE referrals by tenure
(Annual)
Energy suppliers
Communications
Public health
3.
Voluntary sector
UK Power
Networks
Groundwork
London
Annual report of estimated cost
savings achieved
Fuel debt relief with a 2014/15 target
of £15K
Number of Warm Home Discount and
Priority Service Register sign-ups
Promote as part of Big London
Energy Switch (3 times a year)
5.
6.
Installing energy saving measures
to homes (Council and private) incl
radiator panels, draught proofing
Develop a proactive approach to
dealing with dampness and
condensation, including the
deployment of both fabric and
behaviour change interventions
Housing Property
Services
Number of homes benefitting from
improvements (Annual report)
Public Realm –
SHINE
800 “energy doctor in the home” visits
to be completed each year
Housing Property
Services
2014 2019
Reduction in reports of dampness
amongst council tenants (Annual)
Public Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
Active enforcement against Category
1 dampness and mould growth
hazards in privately rented and RP
homes (annual report)
Public Realm –
SHINE
Social marketing campaign to
promote behaviour change
B. Look for new ways of working to increase support and choice for older people to deliver better housing options and services
1. Develop and implement and Older
Persons Housing Strategy
Housing Needs
and Strategy
Adult Social Care Supporting People
April 2015
Registered
Providers
Supported
Housing Providers
Residents
Launch strategy and Action Plan
C. Increase levels of independence
1.
Review allocations scheme to
ensure meets needs of people with
disabilities
Housing Needs
and Strategy –
Housing Options
Housing Executive
Adult Social Care
Registered
Providers
Voluntary sector
2.
Explore potential for befriending
schemes
Adult Social Care
3.
Effective use of the disabled
adaptations and handypersons
service to encourage independent
living amongst elderly and disabled
residents
Housing
Operations
Voluntary sector
March
2014
(Annual)
Annual Review of Allocations Scheme
and reported to Exec
2015-19
Review of Community Enablement
outreach programme to ensure
objectives being met
2014-19
Annual report on number and
average cost of DFG applications
Housing Property
Services
Minimum of 2800 interventions
through the handypersons service
Adult Social Care
– Handy Persons
Service
4.
Explore viability of developing and
promoting health check initiatives for
older tenants, including Mental
Health first aid courses
Public Health
Housing
Operations
Islington CCG
2014-19
Annual number of NHS health checks
completed in Islington
Number of eligible people attending
eligible health awareness events
D. Improving quality of life for vulnerable residents
1.
Sustain Learning Disabilities
Partnership (LDP) focus on access
to employment and training
opportunities for people with
learning disabilities
Adult Social Care
– Commissioning
and Strategy
Learning Disability
Partnership
2014-19
Carers
Number of residents with learning
disabilities supported into work
Target for 2014/15 = 20
JCP
Employers
2.
Targeted action to improve health
outcomes amongst private sector
tenants
Public Protection –
Residential
Environmental
Health
Landlords Forum
CCG
GPs
Public Health
Voluntary Sector
2014-19
Number of referrals each year for
home improvements, including DFGs
Priority 4: Prevent homelessness and provide options
Action
Lead council
Key partners
Timescale
Outcome, target, milestones
service area(s)
A. Work with our partners to further develop accessible and effective homelessness prevention and advice services
1.
Increase number of successful
Housing Needs and
Islington
2014-19
Quarterly report on preventions and
homeless preventions and sustain Strategy – Housing
Homelessness
applications
homelessness acceptances at
Solutions
Forum
below 500 per annum
Monitor number of and trends in
homeless acceptances due to loss of
Housing Welfare
Job Centre Plus
rented accommodation
Reform Response
Team
Number and trends in number of
Registered
homelessness preventions through
Housing Benefit
Providers
sustaining current and/or move to
alternative more affordable rented
accommodation
2.
3.
Co-ordinate advice and support to
households impacted by the total
benefit cap and promote use of
DHP and other available funds to
prevent homelessness
Support the work of the Islington
Homelessness Forum and keep
agencies and partners updated on
changes in welfare reform
Monitor take up DHP in terms of
numbers, average amount and
duration of support
Monitor outcomes in terms of
prevention of homelessness through
award of DHP in short, medium and
longer term
Quarterly meetings to agree and
implement agreed joint actions, share
information and/or raise awareness
B. Provide floating support services to reduce tenancy breakdowns (
1.
Use access to floating support
Adult Social Care Registered
services to help sustain tenancies
Supporting People
Providers
2014-19
Reduction in number of tenancy
breakdowns (measured annually)
Other support
providers
C. Work with landlords to make private rented homes available to low income families and young people.
1.
Develop a new private sector
Housing Needs and
Private Leasing
Sept 2014
Affordability and sustainability
affordability and sustainability
Strategy - Private
Scheme partners
assessment - designed and tested
assessment
Housing Partnerships
Private Landlords
Housing Needs and
Strategy – Housing
2.
Investigate more cost effective
Sept 2014
Options analysed and implemented
temporary accommodation options Options and Housing
Solutions
3.
Increase private sector
opportunities
Housing Needs and
Strategy – Housing
Development and
Regeneration
Finance
2014-19
Quarterly reports on number and cost
of properties procured
Budgetary savings generated –
Annual Report