168 Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy PDF 103 KB
To consider the decision on private sector housing financial assistance policy being made by Cabinet in April
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee received a report asking it to give consideration to the draft Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy. The Private Sector Housing Manager attended the meeting to go though the report and the policy with the Committee. The policy set out the forms of assistance that the Council would make available to owner-occupiers, private landlords and people with disabilities to repair and adapt their homes. Currently the Council made a significant financial investment through its capital programme to improving housing conditions for vulnerable people in private sector housing. Paragraph 10.15 of the report set out the 10 types of assistance residents could get. The policy highlighted the role which housing played in tackling health issues. Work on the financial impact of private sector housing conditions estimated that poor housing was costing the health service in Cheshire East £4.3m per annum. Preventative work to improve housing conditions would assist the avoidance of costs associated with health and social care. For example speedy adaptations and repairs to prevent falls, such as improved lighting, additional handrails and grab rails, were around 400 times cheaper than the cost to statutory services of a hip fracture as a result of a fall.
The policy sought to address four key objectives: 1. removing the most severe health and safety risks for vulnerable homeowners; 2. tackling fuel poverty; 3. Enabling people with disabilities to live independently; 4. Bringing empty homes back into economic use, to increase the supply of affordable housing.
The Committee believed that the policy was important in improving health and wellbeing for vulnerable people. Members suggested that if the health services may be interested in contributing to the funding of financial assistance if they were made aware of the preventative rewards which reduced the costs of treatment of injuries. Members also suggested that the policy should also take into account those pensioners that do not claim benefits and live on small budgets as they would also benefit from loans for substantial investment that they could not afford on their own.
The Committee were also informed that Adult Services had two separate schemes which helped with adaptations to improve safety in vulnerable peoples’ homes. Adult services had a Minor Adaptations Budget for small amounts to cover things such as extra handrails; and the Handy Persons service to provide help for those who wish to fund investments in their own homes but can not carry out the work themselves.
RESOLVED: That the Committee have considered and endorse the Private Sector Housing Financial Assistance Policy with the comments of the Committee included.