Agenda item - Temporary Accommodation - Transformation for Financial Sustainability

That Cabinet;

1)             Agrees to continue the use of using Housing Revenue Account voids as Temporary Accommodation from 19 January 2026 up to 1 May 2027, subject to the exemptions described at paragraph 4.4 and 4.5, with a maximum of 180 properties in scope over that time period.

2)             Agrees the amended policy on the use of Housing Revenue Account voids as Temporary Accommodation as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

3)             Notes the Equality Impact Assessment in relation to the use of voids as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

4)             Agree the new rent review policy as set out in paragraph 5.1 to 5.8 which will set council-owned and long-term leased Temporary Accommodation rents at the appropriate Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Rate for the type of accommodation.

5)             Note the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment as detailed at Appendix 3 to the report.

6)             Agree to the establishment of a new hardship fund for households who are in the relevant council-owned, and long-term leased properties who may otherwise be adversely financially impacted as a result of the rent review not in receipt of benefits. The scope, purpose and operation of the hardship fund are detailed in Appendix 4, with the intention of providing support during the transition to the new rent arrangements.

7)             Agree to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing, to align rents for council owned properties owned or on long leases by the Council and used as TA with any future increases in Local Housing Allowance rates.

8)             Agree to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing to finalise the supporting documents and operational guidance for the hardship fund in accordance with the scope set out in Appendix 4.

9)             Agree the principle of working with Registered Providers to develop an Exempt Supported Temporary Accommodation model that reduces reliance on high?cost spot?purchased placements and provides vulnerable residents with stable accommodation and embedded support.

10)          Agree the creation of a nomination process and Service Level Agreement with Registered Providers to govern delivery of the model, clarify roles and responsibilities and establish an appropriate approach to risk?sharing.

169.1   Cabinet considered a report that sought various approvals to transform its temporary accommodation portfolio, shifting away from costly and unplanned nightly paid provision towards a more sustainable mix of better quality council?owned, leased, block?booked and supported accommodation over the Medium Term Financial Plan.

169.2   Councillors Allen, Robinson and Sankey contributed to the debate of the report.

169.3   Resolved-

That Cabinet;

1)            Agrees to continue the use of using Housing Revenue Account voids as Temporary Accommodation from 19 January 2026 up to 1 May 2027, subject to the exemptions described at paragraph 4.4 and 4.5, with a maximum of 180 properties in scope over that time period.

2)            Agrees the amended policy on the use of Housing Revenue Account voids as Temporary Accommodation as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

3)            Notes the Equality Impact Assessment in relation to the use of voids as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

4)            Agree the new rent review policy as set out in paragraph 5.1 to 5.8 which will set council-owned and long-term leased Temporary Accommodation rents at the appropriate Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Rate for the type of accommodation.

5)            Note the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment as detailed at Appendix 3 to the report.

6)            Agree to the establishment of a new hardship fund for households who are in the relevant council-owned, and long-term leased properties who may otherwise be adversely financially impacted as a result of the rent review not in receipt of benefits. The scope, purpose and operation of the hardship fund are detailed in Appendix 4, with the intention of providing support during the transition to the new rent arrangements.

7)            Agree to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing, to align rents for council owned properties owned or on long leases by the Council and used as TA with any future increases in Local Housing Allowance rates.

8)            Agree to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Homes and Adult Social Care, in consultation with Cabinet Member for Housing to finalise the supporting documents and operational guidance for the hardship fund in accordance with the scope set out in Appendix 4.

9)            Agree the principle of working with Registered Providers to develop an Exempt Supported Temporary Accommodation model that reduces reliance on high?cost spot?purchased placements and provides vulnerable residents with stable accommodation and embedded support.

10)         Agree the creation of a nomination process and Service Level Agreement with Registered Providers to govern delivery of the model, clarify roles and responsibilities and establish an appropriate approach to risk?sharing.