Housing

Homes and Communities works in partnership to create a balanced and affordable housing market, providing decent homes and sustainable communities, and ensuring opportunities for choice and independence for all residents in Herefordshire.

Its functions include:-

• to assess the need for and promote the growth of affordable housing in the county through a variety of delivery mechanisms to meet a range of needs.
• to assess housing conditions and encourage/enforce regeneration, renewal and improved conditions in private sector housing and make the best use of existing stock.
• to help people to remain independent in their own homes through provision of adaptations and repairs with assistance from the in-house Home Improvement Agency for the most vulnerable groups
• to ensure vulnerable people in our community have access to housing with support
• to ensure access to affordable housing for those who seek it through the management of a waiting list or housing register
• to provide statutory housing advice and homelessness services and prevent homelessness

These areas of operation have significant linkages with all sectors of the community and the accommodation and support needs of all groups feature consistently in our policy development, strategic planning and service delivery.

The Council's Housing Strategy has 4 main priorities:

• to achieve a more balanced housing market
• to provide decent homes
• to meet the needs of vulnerable households
• to prevent homelessness

Housing Needs and Development

The Housing Needs and Development team carry out assessments of housing needs, including assisting with development of individual housing plans and strategies for vulnerable people and the development of affordable and supported housing responses in partnership with Registered Social Landlord's (RSLs) and private developers.  The team is also responsible for commissioning the assessment of the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers and housing needs surveys at a local and sub-regional level.  The team works in partnership with RSLs to attract regional funding to the county for housing development and in delivering an ambitious development programme through the use of national, regional and local funding. A great deal of work is undertaken engaging and consulting with local communities and parishes to support the delivery of affordable housing to meet local needs The team also actively contributes to the development of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) and the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF) in maximising opportunities for the development of affordable housing through the planning system.  A further function of this team is to bring empty properties back into use and to develop housing opportunities in partnership with Private Landlords, through Private Sector Leasing and Low Cost Home Ownership. The service is also engaged in informing the West Housing Market Area Investment Strategy, Regional Spatial Strategy, Local Development Framework and Supplementary Planning Documents at local level.

Private Sector Housing

The Private Sector Housing Team carry out housing renewal activities, including financial assistance and the promotion of loans, assessment of stock condition, development of renewal strategies, enforcement actions and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing.  The section is also responsible for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) and delivers Home Improvement Services through the in-house You@Home 'Home improvement Agency' (HIA).  The Handyman Service is also attached to the team, providing a valuable small scale repairs service for vulnerable households.  Private Sector Housing is also responsible for the Council's Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) activities and works proactively on improving domestic energy efficiency in Herefordshire through the provision of grants, advice and the development of initiatives which promote energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty.  Staff are located at 84 Whitecross Road, Hereford, alongside the in-house HIA ensuring improved joint working and efficiencies. 

Home Point

The Home Point Team operates Herefordshire's Choice-Based Lettings Scheme. Developed under the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) pilot programme, the scheme operates as a partnership between the Council and the nine major Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who have stock in the county. Home Point operates the Common Housing Register and Banding Scheme under a Choice-Based Lettings process, advertising vacant properties and providing a shortlist of applicants who have made bids for properties to the partner RSLs. The scheme covers 98% of housing owned by RSL's in Herefordshire. The team operates from an 'estate-agency style' office in Eign Street, Hereford, although users are also able to access the whole process through the Home Point web-site, the Hereford Admag or at any of the 13 partner offices throughout the county.  Innovatively, Home Point is 66% funded by external partners according to a pre-arranged formula.

Homelessness and Housing Options Services

Homelessness and Housing Options Services returned in-house on 1st April 2006 following the end of the contracting out arrangements.  The Service has been re-modelled to ensure a preventative approach to tackling homelessness, leading to significant improvements in the levels of homelessness acceptances and reduction in the use of bed and breakfast and other temporary accommodation. At a strategic level, the team works in partnership in the development and delivery of Herefordshire's Homelessness Strategy and related strategies such as the Youth Homelessness Strategy. The service is provided from Franklin House with surgeries and booked appointments available in Ross on Wye and Leominster together with home visits by arrangement. Telephone calls will be answered Monday to Thursday from 8.45am until 5:15pm, (Friday 8.45am until 4:45pm).
 
If you are homeless due to an emergency situation outside of office hours or at the weekend, please telephone 01432 260000 and you will be directed to the out of hours service.

Please use the links on the left to find out more about the services offered by the Homes and Communities Teams and other relevant Council departments.