A pilot for a Countywide Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme

1
A pilot for a Countywide Rent Deposit Guarantee
Scheme

• A Presentation to a Landlords Forum held by
• East Herts Council
• 25 March 2009
• by Anthony Culley
• Chairman Dacorum Rent Aid

2
A countywide rent deposit scheme

• Supporting People/Herts County Council are
  proposing to set up a countywide deposit
  guarantee scheme for individuals leaving
  supported accommodation who can manage their own
  tenancy with help and guidance
• Accommodation will be sought in the private
  sector
• It is intended that this will free up space in
  supported accommodation for other needy
  individuals
• The scheme is aimed at individuals who are
• Single and over 18
• Currently in supported residential accommodation
• Capable of moving into a more independent
  accommodation
• Still require support and guidance in managing a
  tenancy
• Only individuals who are capable of managing a
  tenancy will be selected

3
The pilot scheme

• Dacorum Rent Aid and Druglink are pooling their
  experiences to pilot a deposit guarantee scheme
  with private landlords in Dacorum and St Albans.
  It is planned to have between 10-15 tenancies in
  each location
• Dacorum Rent Aid have been running a deposit
  guarantee scheme for the single homeless in
  Dacorum for over 10 years. It currently looks
  after 70 tenants, many of whom are on benefits.
  Each tenant regularly meets a DRA support worker.
  Regular contact is maintained with landlords
• Druglink work with a range of individuals to help
  overcome addictions
• Tenancy management and overall scheme management
  will be provided by DRA and tenant resettlement
  support will be provided by Druglink

4
The proposed scheme
Deposit Guarantee Scheme Tenancy mgt
team Resettlement team
Pre-tenancy training Meeting terms of tenancy
agreement Meeting terms of support plans
Landlords accredited Liaising with the tenancy
mgt team
5
Benefits to landlords

• The tenancy manager will introduce landlords and
  tenants
• The scheme will provide
• Deposit guarantee agreement between the scheme
  and the landlord
• An agreement between the scheme and the tenant
  laying out the tenants obligations in taking on
  the tenancy, regular payment of rent, keeping to
  the terms and conditions of the lease
• The lease is between the tenant and the landlord
• An agreement between the tenant and the scheme,
  particularly the tenants obligations to engage
  with the support team
• The tenancy manager will approve the
  accommodation to be offered on the scheme

6
Benefits to landlords. contd

• The tenancy manager will deal with tenancy issues
  between the landlord and the tenant
• Inventory at the beginning and end of the tenancy
• Renewal or termination of tenancy
• Any claims against the deposit
• The majority of the tenants will receive local
  housing allowance
• The tenant will be supported by the scheme
  resettlement worker

7
Support to tenants

• The tenancy manager will help tenants to manage
  their benefits
• If the rent in advance is not provided by housing
  benefit on time the scheme will pay the landlord
  on behalf of the tenant. The rent is repaid to
  the scheme
• The tenancy manager will visit the tenants in
  their accommodation. The frequency will be
  determined by the level of support required
• Visits are important because they will show early
  signs of difficulties in managing the tenancy
• Cleanliness and tidiness
• Evidence of pets or unauthorised lodgers
• Damp, smoke damage etc
• Tenants will also have a support worker who helps
  and guides the individual along the road to
  independence

8
The countywide survey

• In addition to the pilot, a survey of needs and
  current provision across the county will take
  place
• This will also review best practice elsewhere in
  the field
• The key elements to be explored are shown in the
  circles below

Best practice elsewhere
Learning from the pilot
Referring agencies
Potential tenants
Landlords
Existing deposit schemes in the county
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Structuring the countywide scheme

• The introduction of any scheme will take account
  of
• The results of the pilot
• Cost
• Outcomes for the users
• Availability and response of the landlords
• Response from the referring agencies
• Consultations with the countywide stakeholders
• The results of the survey

10
Thank you