The Head of Housing and Communities introduced the report which outlined the spend on Temporary Accommodation during 2022/23 and the current controls that were in place to manage the budget. The Head of Housing and Communities reminded members that it was a statutory responsibility of the Council to provide temporary accommodation.

The Housing Options Manager referred members to paragraph 2.10 of the report which outlined the increased rental costs as well as landlords leaving the rental market due to the cost of living increasing. She outlined that the current Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates had been frozen for several years and were one of the main reasons why people could not afford their rent. On average a 3-bed property in Sittingbourne was currently £1,350 per month and the LHA rate was £848, and in Sheerness the average rent for a 3-bed property was £1,200 per month with the same £848 LHA. Families across Swale were struggling to pay rent as well as pay for food which had contributed to the rising costs of temporary accommodation.

The Chair asked members to look and consider the interventions outlined in Appendix I and suggest any other interventions that officers could pursue. Comments raised included:

·         The Council had to find ways to fund temporary accommodation, turning away people was not an option;

·         did officers talk to Landlords and estate agents to keep residents in their homes?;

·         were there any potential temporary accommodation properties that the Council could invest in;

·         could officers work with housing associations to educate people in temporary accommodation about the importance of budgeting and paying rent?;

·         the Council needed to look at utilising charities that helped people move;

·         could officers put forward people in temporary accommodation for apprenticeships that historically were difficult to fill, such as plumbing?;

·         could councillors help by lobbying government to increase the LHA rates?;

·         recognised that it was hard for housing associations to refurbish properties when the government’s energy requirements made it too expensive for the required refurbishment;

·         it was important for the government to start looking at the LHA rates and ensuring they rose in line with inflation;

·         there were long-term issues that caused funding gaps but thought that officers were doing a great job with the resources they had; and

·         the market had to come down at some point so hoped that the Council would be able to take that opportunity to take stock of their own temporary accommodation.

In response the Housing Options Manager said that the Prevention Team were constantly having conversations with Landlords and Estate Agents to keep people in their homes. She added that the team first checked that any notices of evictions or notices of increased rent were done lawfully, then worked with the landlords and the residents to find ways of keeping them in their homes.

The Head of Housing and Communities said that now there was an opportunity for lobbying from members before the autumn 2023 statement. Officers could look at a better working relationship with housing associations to educate people in the borough better. She said they already had regular meetings with Southern Housing’s senior management to raise the issue of selling stock and they were encouraged to reinvest in the borough.

The Chair thanked officers for all their hard work in managing the budget for temporary accommodation.

Resolved:

(1)  That the current spend on Temporary Accommodation and the current mitigation measures in place at Appendix I of the report be noted.