Agenda item

Purpose

To provide an update on assistance for people to secure a private rented home, to reduce homelessness and housing need in Portsmouth. This includes an update on previously agreed actions agreed in January 2020.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member

1.    Approve that the 0% rent deposit loan scheme pilot is no longer suitable for delivery.

2.    Subject to funding, proceed with the development of the bond scheme, piloted over the next 12 months, as one element in a range of options offered to landlords to increase access to the private rented sector.

3.    Submit a request for use of up to £85,600 from reserves to fund the pilot of the bond scheme for one year.

4.    Recognise the work of the pilot PRS Access team in helping over 70 families and 123 single people to access the private rental sector.  Approve the completion of the pilot to understand if a longer-term service can be sustainably provided.

1.    Approved that the 0% rent deposit loan scheme pilot is no longer suitable for delivery.

2.    Subject to funding, agreed to proceed with the development of the bond scheme, piloted over the next 12 months, as one element in a range of options offered to landlords to increase access to the private rented sector.

3.    Agreed to submit a request for use of up to £85,600 from reserves to fund the pilot of the bond scheme for one year.

4.    Recognised and thanked the work of the pilot PRS Access team in helping over 70 families and 123 single people to access the private rental sector. Approved the completion of the pilot to understand if a longer-term service can be sustainably provided.

Paul Fielding, Assistant Director, Housing, together with Nicola Clannachan, Temporary Head of Housing Needs, Advice & Support, and Janice Davis, Private Rented Sector Access Manager, presented the report.

Maria Cole said it was disappointing that the Credit Union had not proceeded with the rent deposit loan scheme pilot. She very much commended the Private Rental Sector Access Team for their work, especially during Covid; there has been a visible reduction in homelessness in the city. Less NHS support would be needed if people lived in good quality housing. She was very glad to see LEAP was still available; they had helped her when her electricity tariff changed.

In response to questions from Ms Cole, officers explained that

The Leader of the council decides how the Cabinet reserves are used; the matter does not have to go to a Cabinet meeting.

Neither Housing Needs, Advice and Support nor Private Sector Housing give money to landlords of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to improve properties. Officers constantly talk to landlords about what they can offer to encourage and convince them to accept tenants with disabilities, including advising on adaptations. Private sector housing is not necessarily the best option for these tenants; social housing may be better.

With regard to linking the bond scheme to employment support for residents, the Resident Engagement Team is funded by the Housing Revenue Account, which is ring-fenced for social housing tenants, but there is other work being done across the council to help people into employment.

Officers read out Councillor Corkery's comments. Councillor Sanders noted the cuts referred to are cuts made by the government not the council.

Councillor Payter-Harris said the council was waiting for confirmation of government funding and budget pressure was not yet being seen. He was not surprised the unsecured loan scheme was not going ahead. The report was well-written and the pilot scheme is great work which could encompass other areas like resident engagement. Maria Cole had made a good point about tenants with disabilities, which Housing Options could investigate and factor into existing work. He asked if the team could share data on how many people with disabilities access the private housing sector, the cost element and what the team need would need to deliver improvements. He does not want people to be marginalised. Officers said most people with disabilities they helped have hidden rather than physical disabilities and a lot of properties are difficult to adapt. Councillor Payter-Harris asked for the pilot to be brought back at a later date as he was keen to see how it works.

Summing up, Councillor Sanders said he did not recall a barrier to using any additional funding where it is required though he sympathised with the cuts to the Discretionary Housing Payment as the council needs "all the tools in its armoury." He was disappointed with the Credit Union's decision. A key reason for homelessness is eviction when people are behind with the rent and do not know what to do. The private rented sector plays an important part in reducing homelessness. So far the Private Sector Rental Access team have helped around 200 households into the sector, which has the added side benefit of saving the council money. The bond scheme is an example of forward planning that helps reduce homelessness.

DECISIONS

1.    Approved that the 0% rent deposit loan scheme pilot is no longer suitable for delivery.

2.    Subject to funding, agreed to proceed with the development of the bond scheme, piloted over the next 12 months, as one element in a range of options offered to landlords to increase access to the private rented sector.

3.    Agreed to submit a request for use of up to £85,600 from reserves to fund the pilot of the bond scheme for one year.

4.    Recognised and thanked the work of the pilot PRS Access team in helping over 70 families and 123 single people to access the private rental sector. Approved the completion of the pilot to understand if a longer-term service can be sustainably provided.