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Seminar on new ideas for social housing
Part of the Housing Corporation IGP programme |
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| A question of choice: rethinking allocations |
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Programme
The widening remit of social housing providers, coupled with changing demand and attitudes, is putting a strain on traditional, needs-based allocation policies. Tenants want more choice, and they dislike and mistrust complex points systems. Landlords challenged by low demand need to actively market their housing. And the unwanted side-effects of well-meant policies - creating 'ghettos' of deprivation - are coming under fire from all directions. RSLs face the difficult task of devising new policies to satisfy conflicting interests: more choice, fewer empty properties, well-balanced and sustainable communities - but without disadvantaging those in greatest need.
The DTLR's Choice Based Lettings Scheme, to be piloted by 40 local authorities working in consortia across borough boundaries, within stock transfer authorities and with RSLs as active partners, will explore the pros and cons of alternative approaches. These will range from fairly cautious, focused schemes, through development of common housing registers, to open advertising of vacancies - via local newsletters or bulletin boards, plus newer methods such as websites, or estate agency-type shopfronts on low-demand estates. Various models of choice-based policies, including the well-established Dutch model, will be tested. As the pilot schemes begin to go live, this seminar will examine emerging good practice, looking at some of the existing models, their practicality and effectiveness, and their effects on local communities - making it a must for all social landlords alert to the need for alternatives to traditional allocations policies. |
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Speakers
CHAIR: Michele Walsh - Head of Housing Policy, The Housing Corporation
Welcome and introduction Dr. Tim Brown - Director, Centre for Comparative Housing Research, De Montfort University Learning process - Lessons from England, Scotland and Wales for organisations considering choice-based lettings systems. Matthew Waters - Policy Officer, Shelter How inclusive is it? - Ways in which housing providers can ensure that their choice-based strategy is inclusive and does not disadvantage vulnerable people. Louise Slocombe - CRESR, Sheffield Hallam University The challenge of fresh approaches - The implications and issues involved in moving away from needs-based approaches, and the challenges to policy and practice that innovations may bring. Ralph Catto - Chief Executive, Scout Solutions Information pool - Developing software to handle a collaborative lettings system for social landlords and prospective tenants. Kevin Scarlett - Regeneration Partnership Manager, Bolton Community Homes Choice partnership - Lessons emerging from a choice-based allocations scheme involving a partnership of ten local and national social landlords. Andy Gale - Housing Needs Manager, Harrow Council and a Speaker from - Leicester HA Inter-regional mobility - Giving tenants the choice to leave London and tackling some problems of low demand in other areas of the country |
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This event includes lunch allowing delegates and speakers to make new contacts and continue discussing the projects outlined in a comfortable and informal setting. |
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| VENUE: London Voluntary Sector Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA | ||
| seminar freephone - 0800 018 4163 - supplied by MCI WorldCom | ||
| ROOM members £70.00 |
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NON members £90.00 |
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