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NCH – Tenancy Sustainment Team

NCH – Tenancy Sustainment Team. Context. 25,592 current tenancies Annual rent debit £105,000,000 62% of tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit 2,400 affected by the under-occupancy charge 223 households affected by the reduced benefit cap 407 live UC cases – average debt £ 566.66

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NCH – Tenancy Sustainment Team

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  1. NCH – Tenancy Sustainment Team

  2. Context • 25,592 current tenancies • Annual rent debit £105,000,000 • 62% of tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit • 2,400 affected by the under-occupancy charge • 223 households affected by the reduced benefit cap • 407 live UC cases – average debt £566.66 • 8/326 of Local Authorities for income deprivation

  3. Our approach • Supportive approach to income management • Tenancy Sustainment Strategy • Advice and support tailored to individual needs • Supporting health and well-being • Developing financial resilience and employability opportunities • A “Rent First” company-wide approach

  4. Who we are There are seven full time Tenancy Sustainment Officers: Kayleigh Fairholm Denise Ferdinand Jill McQueen Mark Thornton Agnes Husswin Jessica Carreira

  5. One Health and Tenancy Sustainment Officer: Louise Bonsor Three Rent Support Officers: Kelly Fairhurst Jez Poyser Waqar Mulak

  6. The Team

  7. How we work • The team works in patches – each person taking responsibility for a particular geographical area of the City • There are two main areas of focus – new tenants and referrals • We take referrals from any source for NCH tenants who are in need of support to sustain their tenancy • The team primarily sign-post to the most appropriate agency for on-going support

  8. Tenancy Sustainment Officers • Last year the team dealt with 2,215 new tenancies and 1,443 referrals • All new tenants are referred to the team for support with establishing their tenancy • Vulnerability assessment dictates level of support • Priority is rent being paid / Housing Benefit / essential furniture • Also help with budgeting, food parcels and clothes vouchers

  9. Example of a vulnerability assessment

  10. Example of a vulnerability assessment

  11. Health and Tenancy Sustainment Officer • There is a proven link between health problems and financial difficulty • The H & TSO works with cases where health is a factor • Links with health agencies • Drug and alcohol dependency • Mental health issues • Health awareness campaigns

  12. Rent Support Officers • Brought into team in response to welfare reform challenges • Pre-tenancy work and Universal Credit • Interviews carried out with applicants prior to taking NCH tenancy to establish financial capability and support needs • Based in JCP one day per week – sees new NCH UC claimants to provide support with claim

  13. Outcomes • Positive impact on rent arrears with average rent balances being lower at 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks into the tenancy compared to previous years. • Some applicants have realised that they are unable to afford the tenancy and so have not taken up the offer • Some under 35s have realised that they cannot afford flats with high service charges • The feedback from TSOs is that they are getting much better engagement from new tenants as the service has been introduced prior to tenancy sign up

  14. NCH – UC figures • Live UC cases – 407 • UC ended cases – 102 • Total UC cases since rollout (including live and ended) – 509 • Average arrears for UC cases = £566.66 • Average arrears on all cases = £324.83

  15. Outreach • Clifton Cornerstone – 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month • Denton Green, Broxtowe – once per month • Bestwood and Bulwell Foodbank –every Thursday afternoon 1pm – 3pm. • RSO – • Thursday all day – Notts Central JCP • Friday – AM – Bulwell JCP • Friday – PM – Loxley House JCP

  16. Additional NCH support • Education and employment key to releasing tenants from the “benefit trap” • Tenant Academy offers a range of courses to tenants including basic English and maths skills, IT, working in construction taster workshops, and how to start a market stall • Employability support has included workshops such as introduction to working in beauty and hairdressing, CV writing skills and the Work Club • Links with libraries • Employability Manager - “My work search”

  17. Contact details: • Moneymatters@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk • Text DOSH to 80800 for free • Kay.frankson@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk • NCH rents line – 0115 915 4920

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