Agenda item

Briefing and answers to questions – Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Housing.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Housing and written responses to advance questions and noted the responses to supplementary questions below.

Councillor Bevan reported that Haringey had received the outcome of its bid for Decent Homes funding which included guaranteed funding for the next two years (although less than previously allocated) and indicated funding for 2013/14. The reduced funding meant that some of the planned decent homes work would not be conducted.  The Council would consult with tenants on the options when deciding what works should take place.  The Council could also bid for funding to contribute towards making estates more energy efficient to tie into the Decent Homes projects.

Re: Q1 – Void Properties – The Committee noted that void turnaround times of Council properties was down to an average of 19.8 days; this was slightly longer for sheltered housing properties.  In response to questions it was noted that this was down to better co-operation between the Council and Homes for Haringey.  The Cabinet Member would be consulting with Homes for Haringey and Haringey Housing staff to gain their views on what has worked and what else could be done to improve services.

Re: Q2 – Under Occupation -  The allocations service had also made substantial improvements and the Council was moving quickly to free up under occupied properties.  The Cabinet Member stressed that the allocation of Haringey housing, along with housing association and private sector housing allocations, would remain within the Council’s control and would not be transferred to Homes for Haringey.

Re: Q3 – Homelessness - The Committee noted that the Council was implementing the changes to the Local Housing Allowance. Council officers were liaising with government officers with the involvement of London Councils to try to ensure, as far as possible, that other boroughs did not move housing tenants to Haringey as a cheaper option.  In response to a question, the Cabinet Member confirmed that where a person on benefits was under occupying a property their housing benefit would be reduced, which should encourage them to move into smaller properties so that the benefit would cover the entire rent.

Re: Q10 – Temporary Accommodation – The Committee were concerned that less than 200 of the 700 temporary accommodation homes promised by the three housing associations and six private housing suppliers had been built.  It was noted that the Government had reduced funding since the target of 700 new homes was set and so these providers were no longer able to conduct work that was initially intended.  The Committee noted that the Council would currently not pursue the possibility of placing homeless households in less expensive areas outside London.

The Cabinet Member suggested that the Homes and Communities Agency Report on affordable housing estimates be circulated to the Committee (Action No. 173.1).

Re: Q11  - The Committee noted that if the licensing scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) was agreed by the Cabinet in June it would start on 1^st October 2011 with landlords being required to obtain a HMO license in advance of renting out the property. 

RESOLVED to note the briefing.