We’ve launched our ambitious, new corporate plan – it sets out how we’ll support you over the next three years to help you create better homes and places.

This new plan focusses on your unrivalled member experience, it outlines our influencing priorities for the next few years: meeting the net zero challenge and housing at the heart of a rebalanced country, and it highlights our plans to provide the best services to support you now and into the future.

One of the objectives within our corporate plan states ‘we’ll work with NHC members to ensure that housing’s vital contribution is recognised and valued; and to secure the policy and resources necessary to make rebalancing a reality for people and places across the North.’

Within this objective we cover six ambitions which ensures housing is put at the heart of the governments rebalancing agenda.

 

Ambition 1: Ensure that the contributions NHC members make to a range of ‘levelling-up’ missions, particularly to employment and health, are recognised.

As part of the governments levelling up agenda there are four missions:

• Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, especially in those places where they are lagging;
• Spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest;
• Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost; and
• Empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency.

We will map activity against the levelling-up missions ensuring our member contributions are recognised, particularly in the area of employment and health. We’ll kick this off at our Levelling Up Conference: Housing at the Heart of a Rebalanced Country which takes place on 14th July in Leeds. We’ll be bringing together key stakeholders to define the debate on how best to achieve place-based regeneration. We will discuss and share knowledge, and good practice in place-based working and develop the frameworks needed to maximise housing’s role in partnership with others. Our aim is to build an understanding of the contribution housing providers can make to the rebalancing agenda. Through this we can ensure that the great work of our members is recognised. Book your free place at the conference here.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing in the North have decided to use their meetings in 2022/23 to consider the role of housing in levelling-up. The NHC, as secretariat to the APPG, will be working with the Group’s officers to facilitate this. Look out for updates on our website.

Any member organisations who are running projects which deliver against the missions of the Levelling Up White Paper, particularly on the Missions related to health, wellbeing, employment and pride of place are invited to get in touch to share the details with the NHC.

 

Ambition 2: Continue to make the case that greater capacity is required in northern local authorities if we are to make rebalancing a reality.

The average net spend on housing in Northern councils has fallen by 54% since 2010/11, impacting on housing strategy, private sector housing renewal, homelessness and housing advice, and housing-related support services. The average net spend on planning in Northern councils has fallen by 65% since 2010/11, and this has impacted the development of local plans, planning policy, development and building control, environmental initiatives, and business, economic and community development activity.

We will continue to evidence current housing and planning capacity through this year’s Northern Housing Monitor – our ‘state of the region’ report for housing in the North.  We will evidence as far as possible the current level of capacity in housing and planning teams, and we’ll collect evidence on the roles required in housing and planning to deliver new services.

One of the opportunities to boost capacity includes the Public Practice model. Public Practice is a social enterprise with a mission to build the public sector’s capacity to improve the quality, equality and sustainability of places. The model brings diverse skills from the private sector through its Associate Placement Programme to attract, talented, motivated and experienced built environment practitioners – Associates – who want to work within the public sector.  The NHC championed their programme earlier this year and were delighted they have chosen to expand services into the North.

For the planning aspects of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, we will hold a consultation event on the aspects that the government will be consulting on including the proposed infrastructure levy. This will be a similar format to the consultation event held on the Planning for the Future White Paper in October 2020 working with supporter member Ward Hadaway.

 

Ambition 3: Contribute to the development and delivery of an updated Decent Homes Standard; improving housing quality across the North.

We plan to build on our compelling and robust evidence base on the quality of the North’s existing homes, ensuring that the Levelling-Up White Paper’s mission to improve housing quality results in a sustained focus on the North of England.

We will continue to contribute to the DLUHC Decent Homes Review Sounding Board, contributing member views and ensuring that the Standard is ambitious and deliverable. We’ve worked as part of the sounding board for the past year and we’re nearing the end of the process now. We advised on a range of different criterion which varied from ventilation and electrical safety to more placemaking measures. DLUHC have changed the ambitions and scope of the programme, and in their latest update have grouped the Standard’s focus into three areas: thermostatic-mixer valves and windows; electrical safety, refuse management and water efficiency; and ventilation and home security.

There are also plans to design a standard which covers both socially rented and private rented homes.  The NHC will continue to monitor the development of the new standard as it relates to both tenures.

Our next edition of the Northern Housing Monitor will evidence current levels of decency and energy efficiency standards across tenures in Northern regions and will anticipate and highlight any gaps against possible future standards.

 

Ambition 4: Work with Government, Parliament and our members to drive up standards in the North’s private rented sector.

We will be monitoring and responding to the expected 2022 Renters Reform White Paper and subsequent legislation on behalf of and in consultation with our members. The proposals on renter’s reform include commitments to abolish so-called ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions and strengthen landlords’ rights of possession, delivering on the levelling up mission to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030 and create a rental market that is fairer and more effective for tenants and landlords.

Our Private Rented Sector member network offers the opportunity for members to come together and discuss emerging themes and issues. The key themes emerging from the network in relation to renters’ reform include: the need for streamlined standards in relation to HHSRS and MEES; place-based issues about areas of low value where landlords can’t or won’t invest due to viability; and avoiding ‘two-tier’ regulation where some properties will be exempt from raising homes to a level of decency because sum of investment outweighs overall value of the property. We’ll continue to bring members together to discuss and debate these important issues over the coming year.

 

Ambition 5: Secure funding for brownfield renewal across the North – evidencing the need and celebrating success.

Using our connections with the Northern Combined Authorities, we will demonstrate the difference existing Brownfield Funding has made, celebrating success and making the case for further funding to existing Combined Authorities and to new Combined Authorities if and when these emerge. Our current priority is to support members where possible on operational issues with the current fund, and to celebrate the success and ensure more investment in brownfield renewal into the future.

 

Ambition 6: Raise awareness of solutions available to support members with their rebalancing objectives.

We’ll strive to support members with any challenges coming out of the Decent Homes Standard, ensuring our procurement solutions support members with their rebalancing objectives.

 

Making rebalancing a reality for people and places across the North

Created by our full staff team alongside our member-led Board, the corporate plan has been shaped by insight built through our member engagement opportunities, by looking ahead to future challenges and from our member perceptions research which took place last year.

Within this corporate plan objective we will strive to ensure the contribution housing and of our members is recognised and valued; and through our activity we’ll work to secure the policy and resources required to make rebalancing a reality for people and places across the North.

The Northern Housing Consortium’s Private Rented Sector Network met for the first time in 2022 this month, with plenty to discuss since the recent Queen’s Speech. The Network was established to offer NHC members working in or connected to private sector housing the space to network and share good practice from across the northern regions and is Chaired by Dr Julie Rugg who informs discussion based on her expertise researching the Private Rented Sector.

This first session was used to digest announcements made in the Queen’s Speech and arrange a work programme to ensure the northern voice is heard. Announced earlier in the month, the introduction of the Renter’s Reform Bill is intended to fulfil the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitment to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions; and to strengthen other grounds for possession, such as for rent arrears and anti-social behaviour. The Bill will also legislate for the extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector (a Levelling Up White Paper commitment), introduce a new ‘property portal’ to give tenants performance information to hold their landlord to account and create an Ombudsman for private landlords.

Acknowledging the Network’s large, pan-northern membership, NHC members were joined by colleagues from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Private Rented Sector Division. Discussing their work in Standards and Enforcement, David Selby and Lisa Whiting, shared their desire to hear the views of NHC members on the expansion of the Decent Homes Standard into the PRS. In particular, as the standard is developed, the Department would be looking closely at what success would look like for colleagues in the implementation of the Standard, and how any issues in relation to costs could be navigated.

In a wide-ranging discussion, NHC members discussed with the Department the need to avoid the duplication and ‘layering on’ of regulation, and the need to ensure that the Decent Homes Standard in the PRS compliments developments in the review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. NHC members saw an opportunity to create a ‘streamlined’ standard that Landlords could easily understand and importantly avoid any discrepancies that hinder Local Authorities in their work.

Equally, colleagues discussed the need to ensure that any work to enforce the new Standard be properly resourced. With sufficient capacity, it was felt that members could undertake proactive work providing support and education to professional landlords whilst effectively tackling the activities of criminal landlords.

Attendees also warned against the creation of ‘two-tier’ regulation where landlords in low-value housing markets could cite viability in alluding their responsibility to invest in their properties. Overall, it was felt that the wider Levelling Up agenda provided an opportunity to think holistically about how NHC members support homes of all tenures in their communities; looking at housing quality alongside decarbonisation and wider place-making to create better homes and places.

Recording and notes from the NHC’s Private Rented Sector Network are available to all NHC members signed up to the PRS Network Mailing List. To join the mailing list, please email Kristina.dawson@nhc.org.uk.

Levelling Up Community Regeneration

 The Government’s Levelling Up agenda has brought a renewed focus on tackling the place-based challenges that hold back many neighbourhoods; inequality and deprivation; poor quality, mismanaged private rented sector housing; and long term vacant and derelict housing. Amongst a number of proposed interventions, the Government plans to introduce measures to empower Local Authorities to bring empty homes back into use.

 In this guest blog, Brighid Carey from Action on Empty Homes discusses their new Community Action Toolkit, and the holistic and community-centred approach to building high quality homes and neighbourhoods that sits at the heart of keeping housing at the heart of a rebalanced country.

NHC members with an interest in the Levelling Up agenda are encouraged to contact Liam Gregson, Member Engagement Manager to discuss how to be involved in our work – liam.gregson@nhc.org.uk

 

Empty Homes – An Enduring Solution

Brighid Carey, Consultancy and Project Manager, Action on Empty Homes

Action on Empty Homes has launched a new Community Action on Empty Homes Toolkit, a guide for local authorities and communities working together with other partners through the process of bringing empty homes into use, to deliver affordable housing for local people. The Toolkit highlights the opportunity for new conversations and new ways of thinking, building creative collaborations to deliver lasting change.

In 2021, the number of empty homes in England stood at 238,306, a level symptomatic of a five year-trend of steadily rising numbers of long-term empty homes, despite a worsening housing crisis. Across the north of England, higher than national average concentrations of empty homes persist: in Scarborough 1 in 13 homes is empty, in Manchester it’s 1 in 30, and in Newcastle the figure is 1 in every 31 homes standing unoccupied. Recognising the scale of concern, the recently published Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill would double council tax on empty homes after one year instead of two, and enable local authorities to charge double council tax on second homes.

For communities, the cost of empty homes may be counted by the impacts on lives. Areas with high numbers of empty homes generally experience higher levels of vandalism and street crime, their residents are more likely to be in low-wage employment, and health and education indicators are poor[1]. Such areas are often characterised by high cost, poor quality privately rented accommodation[2].  Communities become trapped in a spiral of decline that can erode their confidence, lower aspirations and undermine well-being.

Local authorities and housing association have central roles: ·       Get your council to discuss using the Toolkit and supporting communities to bring empty homes into use, to help revitalise neighbourhoods and provide much-needed local housing ·       Housing associations – think about how you can support community action, especially through ethical divestment of street stock ·       Send communities a positive message that you’re willing to collaborate with them and support their empty homes work ·       Get in touch with AEH for more information: brighid.carey(at)emptyhomes.com

It’s time to ask different types of questions when it comes to empty homes. Local authorities and housing providers ask ‘How can we reduce the numbers of empty homes?’ and ‘Will enforcement work this time?’ Communities see things differently. They ask ‘How can we find somewhere decent to live?’, ‘Why are there so many homes going to waste?’  ‘How can we live well here and feel proud when it all looks so uncared for?’ What can we do about it? Communities ask questions about the things that really matter to them – they are concerned about the details of life that can make the difference between feeling well and optimistic or feeling anxious and powerless. Because of their understanding, communities are very well placed to find solutions and act to put things right – for themselves.

AEH has been working alongside communities bringing empty homes into use for the past six years. For the first three of these years, we studied six community groups, some well-established in property renovation, others at the beginning of their journey.  All had recognised unmet housing needs within their communities, had been frustrated by the numbers of homes standing empty, and had decided to do something about it.

The groups were studied represented very diverse communities. Cultures CIC in Stockton on Tees was originally formed to support individuals and groups from BME, migrant and refugee communities and help their social, economic and cultural inclusion. Cultures CIC knew that new entrants to the UK often ended up in poor quality privately rented housing and in low paid work. Working in collaboration with Thirteen HA, Cultures CIC started the process of leasing and renovating empty homes, to provide homes for community members. Cultures CIC had a very small amount of funding but through its outreach work and onsite training, was able to attract donated labour and materials.  Giroscope in Hull had decades of experience in renovating empty homes. Set up in the mid 1980’s to bring empty homes into use, Giroscope has gone from strength to strength, pulling significant capital funding into the areas of Hull where they work.

Of the communities were worked alongside, only one, Giroscope, had actually started out as a housing project. The others were community or neighbourhood groups who wanted both to create more and better affordable housing options for local people, and to address some of the underlying issues that had led to areas having long-term empty homes in the first place.

We found communities to be very effective at addressing these underlying issues. All of the community-led projects in our study provided work experience and on-site training for local people, people with vulnerabilities and people from frequently excluded groups. Some created commercial and office spaces for new community businesses such as bakeries, cycle workshops, gardening services, community shops and venues for training and events. They provided broadband services, advice and information centres and tenancy support, and a range of other services and amenities for local people. Bringing empty homes into use was the catalyst and the medium through which communities delivered the changes they wanted to see, which in turn helped to rebuild the local social and economic infrastructure.

Because communities are ‘intelligent’ about themselves, they understand the roots of issues for local people, and when empowered with leadership and decision-making, can target resources directly towards their resolution, and inspire positive lasting change.

You can download a free copy of the Community Action on Empty Homes Toolkit here.

[1] House Of Commons Briefing Paper 3012 ‘Empty Housing (England)’ (Oct 2020)

[2] Sic