An introduction to Choice Based Mobility

1
An introduction to Choice Based Mobility

• Stephen Ellis
• CLG Mobility Services Delivery Manager
• Homelessness Allocations Conference 2009

2
Introduction to housingmoves

• Seaside Country Homes scheme
• Choice Based Mobility
• www.housingmoves.org
• National housing mobility advice hotline
• Identifies other housing mobility options
• Shares good practice with participating
  landlords
• Quarterly newsletters for landlords and
  registrants
• Highly commended by CLG Permanent Secretary
  following short-listing for Delivery of Services
  and Analysis Award

3
Seaside Country Homes

• Scheme dates back to GLC
• Properties subject to Nomination Agreement
  between Secretary of State and participating
  landlords
• Open to applicants aged 60 and above who occupy
  social housing in London and who are referred by
  their landlord
• Priority given to households who free up the
  largest properties
• 3,500 properties on scheme and approx 8 become
  void each year
• Portfolio of one and two-bed flats and bungalows
• Demand outstrips supply

4
Choice Based Mobility

• London Boroughs and London based RSLs promote
  the scheme and nominate applicants
• Applications vetted by the housingmoves team
• Properties are managed by participating
  landlords
• Void property details are passed on to
  housingmoves team
• housingmoves staff contact registered applicants
  to offer viewings
• Applicant views property and hopefully accepts
  tenancy offer
• London landlord fills new void from transfer or
  waiting list

5
Choice Based Mobility pilot case study

• National RSL
• Properties currently let through direct nom, and
  local and regional CBLs
• Some attracting no bids at all
• Mixture of properties General needs, studios,
  sheltered
• Properties identified as hard-to-let passed to
  housingmoves team
• Property type/size and local area and amenities
  info provided
• housingmoves team contact relevant registrants
• Interested registrants nominated
• Viewing arranged and tenancy offered
• housingmoves now able to offer opportunities to
  areas not covered by SCH Nomination Agreement and
  filling at least one void each month

6
Choice Based Mobility pilot case study two

• Local Authority
• 40 of stock is classified as older persons
  accommodation
• Regional CBL launched early 2008
• Some hard-to-let stock attracting small
  numbers of bids
• housingmoves already offers SCH customers the
  chance to move to nearby area
• housingmoves registers interested customers on
  sub-regional CBL
• Properties still available after two bidding
  cycles made available to housingmoves
• Property type/size and local area and amenities
  info provided
• housingmoves team contact potential movers and
  bid on their behalf
• landlord notifies registrant and housingmoves of
  the outcome of the bid
• Viewing arranged and tenancy offered

7
Why should landlords participate?

• Properties can remain empty for long periods of
  time
• Additional rental income and tenants who have
  chosen to live in their home and local area
• Increased political profile of housing mobility
• HCA Mobility Matters report
• conservative mutual exchange proposals
• Large numbers of under-occupied properties in
  London
• More appropriate use of stock
• Properties promoted through website, newsletter
  and virtual tours
• Free service and all of the hard work is done
  by housingmoves staff!

8
Who benefits?

• Lets ask Eileen.

9
Come on Eileen

• Eileen, a Londoner, moved from Bromley to the
  Isle of Wight in 2007
• Moved from a three-bedroom house into a
  two-bedroom bungalow
• South East London Housing Partnership offered
  financial assistance as she was downsizing
• Her old property is now home to a family from
  Bromleys housing list
• Both households - and their landlords - are
  happy
• And now

10

11
Regional Officers

• Greater London and the South East
• Sima Gohil
• 07920 753 185
• South West
• Josie Wainwright
• 07786 910 936
• East of England
• Colin Gipp
• 07786 910 300
• Stand number 11

12
Mobility advice for customers

• 08450 21 20 20
• email enquiries_at_housingmoves.org
• Experienced customer service team
• Providing information on housing opportunities
  to all
• Info on assistance payments and how to access
  CBL schemes
• www.housingmoves.org

13
www.housingmoves.org

• Info on each scheme and how to apply
• Downloadable application form and guidance notes
• Property and area information
• News and Events
• PDFs of all marketing material including case
  studies and landlord and applicant notes

14
Thanks for listening

• Any questions?
• Stephen Ellis
• Mobility Services Delivery Manager
• housingmoves
• 242 Vauxhall Bridge Road
• London
• SW1V 1AU
• T 020 7944 2553
• E stephen.ellis_at_housingmoves.org