To approve arrangements in respect of a Private Rented Housing Sector Accommodation Fund Pilot.

1.      That the award of £363,408 from the Private Rented Sector Fund to Homeseeker Plus Partnership for the development and implementation of a pilot scheme to increase access to private sector rented properties for people in need of affordable housing (‘the pilot scheme’) be NOTED.

2.      That the Council’s involvement as a partner in the pilot scheme be APPROVED as set out in the report.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Head of Community Services, in consultation with the Head of Finance and Asset Management, to enter into the Partnership Agreement, Data Sharing Agreement and other related documentation associated with the pilot scheme on terms approved by the Borough Solicitor.

8.1             The report of the Head of Community Services, circulated at Pages No. 41-50, set out the details of a pilot project which sought to increase the number of properties which were available to families and individuals within the Borough who were seeking affordable rental accommodation. Members were asked to authorise Officers to enter into a pilot project along with the rest of the housing services in the County and West Oxfordshire District Council. The pilot scheme aimed to support more people into successful tenancies.

8.2             The Head of Community Services advised that there was a disparity between the number of families and individuals in the Borough who were seeking affordable rental accommodation and the number of properties available to them to rent; there were currently over 2,200 people on the waiting list but in 2017/18 there had only been 421 social housing lets within the Borough. Traditionally, private sector landlords were reluctant to let to individuals and families on lower incomes and the scheme which was being developed aimed at partially addressing that situation by encouraging and incentivising local private sector landlords to rent to those people. The scheme would not be suitable for all potential tenants or all landlords, for example, it was highly unlikely that tenants with a chaotic lifestyle would be suitable for the scheme. Officers from Community Services had led the regional funding bid which aimed to incentivise landlords, prevent homelessness and reduce the burden of costly temporary accommodation and it was likely that the Forest of Dean District Council would lead on the delivery of the project. Working on behalf of the partnership, the team had been successful in the bid for funding to pilot the project which totalled £363,000 and was shared between the Gloucestershire Districts and West Oxfordshire District Council who were all part of the Homeseeker Plus Partnership.

8.3             A Member questioned whether the Council had any control over the rents being charged as he noted that some private rents in his area were over £1,000 a month. In response, the Head of Community Services explained that there was no way for the Council to influence/control the rents charged by private landlords but Officers were using the local housing allowance as a base so they would consider landlords that were as close to that as possible. Landlords would get the rental payments from housing benefit; Universal Credit; directly from the clients; or from discretionary housing payments. A Member questioned what would happen at the end of the pilot scheme if someone was successfully renting a property that they would not otherwise be able to afford. The Head of Community Services advised that this had been the subject of much debate and discussion by the project team and it was felt there could be options available if this became an issue. All tenants would be made fully aware at the outset that the tenancy was for a 12-month period only – this meant it was a leap of a faith to a certain extent but it was felt that it could work really well for some. If the landlord found a tenant they liked they may also come up with an option to keep them which would be great for the success of the scheme going forward.

8.4             Accordingly, it was