North London Domestic Violence Reciprocal Agreement
Boroughs in the North London sub-region collaborating on homelessness prevention in cases of domestic violence
October 2013
North London sub region Domestic Violence Reciprocal Agreement
Boroughs in the North London sub-region collaborating on homelessness prevention in cases of domestic violence
Contents: Page Number 1. Purpose of the Agreement……………………………………………....1 2. Key principles……………………………………………………..……… 1 3. Referral Process………………………………………………………… .2 4. Additional operational considerations…………………………………. 3 5. Offer of Accommodation…………………………………………………3 6. Provision of Support…………………………………………………… ..4 7. Monitoring & evaluation arrangements………………………………...4 8. NLHP named Partners…………………………………………………..5 Appendix 1: Urgent Property Request Form Appendix 2: Operations Pathway Guidelines
1 Purpose of the Agreement: a. Boroughs in the North London sub-region to join together to assist their tenants who need to flee from their home. The purpose of the pilot DV Reciprocal Agreement is to establish a mutually supportive framework through which all partners can work together to rehouse their tenants who are experiencing domestic violence and need to move home.
b. The DV Reciprocal pilot is intended to assist tenants subjected to domestic violence, regardless of gender, “where there are safety issues and/or child protection concerns and where there are threats of violence, where a person has been subjected to violence” (as defined by the new cross-Government definition, 2013) and there is a likelihood of further violence and the survivors address is known to the perpetrator.
c. The DV Reciprocal Agreement is intended to increase safe options, offer choice and an alternative to the homelessness route and potentially long spells in temporary accommodation.
d. The agreement is subject to the constraints of availability, to locate suitable alternative accommodation within a mutually agreed location and is subject to the policies and procedures of all participating organisations.
2 Key Principles: a. After initial enquiries to determine that the case deserves further investigation, the case will be treated as an application for a management transfer or equivalent.
b. The assessment should maximise the possibility that alternative approaches to allow the tenant to stay in their own home or be transferred by their existing 1
landlord are fully explored. It is expected that these options should be fully explored prior to a decision that the tenant needs an out of borough move.
c. All referrals will be subject to the policies and procedures of the receiving borough. Where it is not possible to provide alternative accommodation, the host/referring borough will work with the tenant to discuss housing options, with safety being the primary concern.
d. Applicants might, for safety at the time of application, be staying with family or friends, in temporary accommodation or in a women’s refuge, however their existing tenancy must be with one of the participating boroughs within the North London sub-region. The North London sub-region comprises of the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington and Westminster.
3 Referral Process: a. Each Partner will nominate a lead contact and a reserve person. Partners will notify the North London sub regional Homelessness & Overcrowding Coordinator when there is a change of Named Person/s or contact details.
b. When a tenant approaches their landlord with a request to move from their accommodation due to fleeing Domestic Violence, it has been agreed by partners that as the tenant of a North London Housing Partnership named partner, they will be asked if a reciprocal has been discussed with them.
c. The Partner will conduct a risk assessment and try to arrange suitable transfer within their own stock.
d. Where this is not possible, a request for alternative accommodation will be sent to Partners. The request will identify the area/s where the tenant has indicated that they wish to be rehoused.
e. Where the client approaches their home borough to make use of the Reciprocal Agreement, a request for alternative accommodation to Partners in the chosen area should be made by email using the Reciprocal ‘Urgent Property Request and Nominations’ form to the named person on the Reciprocal contact list.
f. When rehousing a high risk client (established through risk assessment) the case will be discussed between the most senior housing options officers to ensure a swift resolution.
g. Where a reciprocal request has been made, the receiving borough will acknowledge receipt of the request within 3 working days. A decision on whether they will accept the reciprocal move will be confirmed to the requesting borough within 5 working days.
h. Where a reciprocal request is accepted, partners must aim to complete the procedure as swiftly as is reasonably possible.
i. The Partner requesting assistance will be responsible for advising Partners and the sub regional Homelessness & Overcrowding Coordinator if and when an offer has been made and accepted.
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j. All referrals will be subject to the policies and procedures of the receiving borough.
k. Where a Partner assists in the housing of a tenant of another Partner, the referring borough will owe a property of similar size and type to the receiving borough.
4 Additional Operational Considerations; a. OVERCROWDING: If the client was overcrowded in their previous accommodation, the size of the property the applicant is offered will be in accordance with the receiving borough’s policy on management transfer
b. PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION: After the person has been housed in permanent accommodation, the referring borough should assign a property to the receiving borough. This should be done as soon as practicably possible.
c. LIKE-FOR-LIKE PROPERTIES: The reciprocal property should be of a similar standard and type where possible to the property that the applicant has received. The property will be of the same size as the property in which the applicant has been rehoused, as opposed to the property they have vacated – although this will be subject to negotiation between the relevant parties.
d. HOUSING BENEFIT PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS: Housing Benefit will pay on 2 properties for up to 4 weeks (if there is no intention to return) or 52 weeks (if there is an intention to return). A decision on whether the person will be moving needs to be made quickly and, if they are not to return, notice given to the landlord.
e. Where an individual is not already in receipt of housing benefit, a claim can be made.
f. Boroughs can consider the use of a Discretionary Housing Payment ( DHP) for payment of rent
g. CHANGE OF LANDLORD: Households changing landlords will be provided with details of the receiving landlords’ policies and given the opportunity to discuss the different policies and procedures.
5 Offer of Accommodation: a. The receiving borough will make one offer of housing and will contact the applicant or the host/referring borough with the viewing details.
b. Applicants will then have 24 hours to make a decision following a property viewing.
c. Should the applicants refuse the offer, they will need to provide reasons to the host/referring borough, and it will be for the receiving borough to make a decision whether they want to make another offer of housing.
d. Where more than one offer is made, the tenant will consider the offer which was made first.
e. In certain circumstances it might be appropriate to waive the 28 day notice period, by agreement of both organisations, in the interests of safety and
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security of the tenant. This will be at the discretion of the nominating and receiving Partners.
f. Once the tenant has relinquished their tenancy the host/referring borough will offer the receiving borough a property of equal size. Alternatively a property can be banked for recall at a later date, to be taken up within a year.
g. Where a Partner is unable to provide a suitable reciprocal property within a reasonable period, they are expected to offer an alternative (i.e. 2 x 2 bed properties in return for a 4 bed property); the decision of whether to accept such an offer would be at the discretion of the Partner owed the property.
h. Where Partners are consistently receiving more households than they are moving they can temporarily opt out until the balance is redressed. The suggested guide figure is 20% more households than other Partners.
6 Provision of support: a. The Partners recognise that households that need to move may need additional support and will work together with specialist agencies. Partners will make referrals to other agencies where the tenant agrees that they should do so, with the aim of delivering a holistic response to the households needs.
b. We recognise that each case, and each set of circumstances, is unique and that each will require an individual client-centred response.
c. We recognise that children and vulnerable people might live in violent and abusive households and may be at risk as a result. Their safety and security is paramount and if there are any doubts a referral must be made to Social Services or the Police Child Protection Unit or a MARAC referral.
7 Monitoring & Evaluation Arrangements: a. The NLHP Homelessness & Overcrowding Coordinator will monitor this Agreement and is to be notified of the outcome of applications.
b. The signatories will discuss the working of the Agreement and any amendments required as a standard agenda item at the 6-weekly sub regional Housing Needs Group meeting.
c. Requests by other social landlords to sign up to the Agreement will be dependent on the agreement of the participating Partners.
d. The sub regional Housing Needs Group meeting will monitor and evaluate the Reciprocal Agreement. The Agreement will be reviewed annually. In the unlikely event of a dispute, the disputed case will be discussed at the Housing Needs Group meeting.
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8 NLHP named reciprocal arrangement Partners:
Local authorities: London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Enfield
London Borough of Haringey
London Borough of Islington
Westminster City Council
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Borough Contacts: To discuss a DV Reciprocal, please contact the named leads below in respective north London boroughs: please email [email protected] (NL Homelessness Coordinator) in case of any changes in staff/contacts Borough Contact Name Job Title Email Telephone No. type BARNET Lead Radlamah Domestic Violence Sanctuary [email protected] 020 8359 6072/ Canakiah Scheme Co-ord 07985 767 304
Reserve Nadia Singh Housing Needs Manager [email protected] 0208 359 4852/ 07944 298 027
CAMDEN Lead Julie Newsam Allocations Service Manager [email protected] 020 7974 5515
Reserve Joe Bianchi Allocations Team Manager [email protected] 020 7974 3042
ENFIELD Lead Neil Harris Head of Housing Options & [email protected] 020 8379 4348 Advice Reserve John Perowne Housing Options & Advice Team [email protected] 020 8379 4399 Manager
HARINGEY Lead Vicky Pinkett Housing Advice & Options [email protected] 0208 489 4778 Team Leader
Reserve Beverley Faulkner Housing Assessments & Lettings [email protected] 020 8489 4362 Manager ISLINGTON Lead Susan Haire Mobility Manager [email protected] 020 7527 4372
Reserve Margaret Gates Housing Solutions Manager [email protected] 020 7527 6331
WESTMINSTER Lead Tracy Gain Housing Needs Commissioning [email protected] 0207 641 4852 Officer Reserve Helena Housing Needs Commissioning [email protected] 0207 641 3491 Stephenson Manager North London Lead Miranda Griffith NL Homelessness & [email protected] 020 7974 5942/ Housing Overcrowding Coordinator 07825 928 508 Partnership Reserve Lesley Mallett NL Sub-Regional Co-ordinator [email protected] 020 8359 7015/ 07956 66685 6
APPENDIX 1
North London Domestic Violence
Reciprocal Agreement:
URGENT PROPERTY REQUEST FORM
ALL FIELDS MUST BE COMPLETED:
Date:
Nominating For Attention of NLHP Reciprocal Partners LA
Section 1 – Applicant’s details:
Nominee Name
Current Tenancy Address (including postcode) Borough of
Residence
Size, Floor and Type of Current Property
Tenancy Type
For more information contact the nominating officer, details on page 3. Do not contact the nominee directly.
Household Details: Surname First Name D.O.B Gender Relationship to Applicant 1 Applicant 2 3 4 5 6 Pregnant EDC
Ethnic Origin of Applicant (CORE Q5) Asian or Asian Black or Black Chinese or other White Mixed British British ethnic groups White & Black English Indian Caribbean Chinese Caribbean
7 NLHP Reciprocal Agreement/Urgent Property Request & Nominations Form August 2013
APPENDIX 1 Irish White & Black African Pakistani African Other Gypsy/Roma/ Scottish White & Asian Bangladeshi Other Irish Traveller Other Other Other Client declined to provide information
Section 2 - Risk and support needs:
Risk Provide summary details below Risk to other individuals Risk to Applicant Risk to Organisations Not aware of any risk Potential risk – further investigation advised
Risk to other individuals - from potentially violent or dangerous applicant/member of applicant household – including if the applicant or member of the applicant family committed a violent crime in the past. Risk to applicant or child – (mental, emotional, physical, sexual, financial) of harm or abuse from another person/s, of unfair treatment because of their circumstances for example, self-harm or abuse, disability or blind and therefore needs specialist services. Risk to organisations - cost of tenancy failure, arrears, damage to property, higher void rates, dealing with anti-social behaviour; risk to reputation through poor publicity, previous eviction.
ASBO Challenging behaviour Committed sexual assault or exposure Communication Needs (for example English as second language, sight or hearing difficulties) Danger to children Drug Intervention Programme Employment support or training Enhanced CPA Furniture or grant required MAPPA case Medical Assessment for example; need for aid or adaptation to property or ground floor. Please include any assessment information such as date of assessment and by whom Parenting order Probation or Youth Offending order Risk of Self harm Sex Worker Tenancy Sustainment: previous eviction for arrears Tenancy Sustainment: previous eviction for ASB Traveller Vulnerability: At risk of domestic violence Where does the perpetrator of domestic violence reside (last known address)
Section 3: Reciprocal Property Request Details:
8 NLHP Reciprocal Agreement/Urgent Property Request & Nominations Form August 2013
APPENDIX 1 Nominating borough
Nominating Officer Date Officer Contact Details
(email and telephone) Details of Property Requested
Number of bedrooms needed
Details of any mobility issues
Maximum floor/lift requirements
Any medical conditions that need to be taken into to consideration (and may have a bearing on the type of property offered) List family pets (is the applicant prepared to rehome their pets if property is offered but no pets allowed) Rent Account History
CAADA risk assessment completed? Preferred areas of choice within borough (although not guaranteed) Areas that are unsafe for the applicant Other information
Nominating Organisation Next Steps Complete the form with as much detail as possible Send the form to partners on the Reciprocal Contact list Put ‘NLHP Reciprocal Urgent Property Request’ in the email subject line Cc to Miranda Griffith for monitoring It is the applicant organisations responsibility to follow up the request with partners and to inform NLHP Homelessness Coordinator of the Outcome on completion, by returning the form with the Outcome section completed to the Coordinator
Section 4 – Reciprocal Outcome: At the end of the process, whether or not a move was achieved; return the whole form with this section completed to Miranda Griffith for monitoring
Successful or unsuccessful
Housed by (local authority)
9 NLHP Reciprocal Agreement/Urgent Property Request & Nominations Form August 2013
APPENDIX 1
Borough
Was this the borough requested?
Type of property accepted
If not successful please give reasons (for example was an offer made but rejected)
Comments:
Section 5: Background information: NLHP Local Authority Partners – Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington, Westminster
Property Address, Type and size – Property full address, including postcode, Property Type - House /Flat / Maisonette/Bungalow – Number of bedrooms and number of bed spaces. If a flat which floor is it on.
CORE – Throughout the form there is a reference to CORE; in each of these parts the information will relate to the relevant question contained within the standard CORE return.
Risks and support needs – You are asked to complete a risk assessment under three categories: individual; applicant; organisation. For cases of domestic violence it is also necessary to complete the CAADA risk assessment
For any enquires regarding the Reciprocal Agreement process, forms or monitoring contact: Miranda Griffith North London Housing Partnership [email protected] 020 7974 5942/ 07825 928 508
10 NLHP Reciprocal Agreement/Urgent Property Request & Nominations Form August 2013
APPENDIX 2
North London Domestic Violence Reciprocal Agreement:
OPERATIONS PATHWAY GUIDELINES
Below is a brief guide to assist officers through the process of making or responding to an Urgent Property Request. Full details are in the North London Domestic Violence Reciprocal Agreement document, and you are advised to read the full document before proceeding. STEP: ACTION: 1 A local authority identifies a tenant who needs to move home and meets the basic criteria for the North London Domestic Violence Reciprocal Agreement: i.e. a social housing tenant in one of the North London sub regions boroughs who wants to move within the sub region.
2 OR a charity or voluntary sector partner identifies a client who is a local authority social housing tenant in North London who is fleeing domestic violence and wants to move within the sub region. The charity or voluntary sector partner informs the client of the option and advises the client to talk to their landlord about the option or assists the client to approach their housing provider, advising them of any special needs or considerations.
3 The local authority attempts first to meet the needs of the tenant from within their own stock if safe to do so. Where this is unsuccessful, the officer provides the tenant with information about the North London Domestic Violence Reciprocal Agreement, and the extent and limitations of the option.
4 It has been agreed by partners that where the tenant of a North London local authority presents as homeless to a local authority in the sub region, they will be asked if a reciprocal has been discussed with them or has been attempted.
5 Once it is established that the client is suitable for the reciprocal agreement, the housing provider completes the Urgent Property Request (UPR) form with the tenant along with the CAADA-DASH Risk Assessment, with as much detail as possible and liaises with any support providers to complete the risk assessment within the form.
6 To preserve confidentiality the CAADA-DASH Risk Assessment is not sent out with the UPR form, but separately when an offer of accommodation is made.
7 The housing provider, who is the nominating partner, circulates the UPR form to lead and reserve contacts in the DV Reciprocal contact list of the NL borough/s to where it the client has requested to move, heading the email ‘NLHP Urgent Reciprocal Agreement Request’. A brief description of the request is written in the email, for example, ‘Request for 2 bedroom property in Barnet or Enfield. Must have lift if over 3rd floor. Tenant escaping domestic violence in Camden, risk assessment available. Contact housing officer for further details’. Full contact details of the named housing officer are required.
8 Where a Reciprocal Property Request is made, the receiving partner will acknowledge receipt of the request within 3 working days.
9 A decision on whether the receiving partner will accept the reciprocal move will
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APPENDIX 2
be confirmed to the requesting borough within 5 working days
10 Once a potential offer is made, further information including the risk assessment is made available to the partner making the offer. The tenant is informed of any differences between the policies of the receiving borough or if there is a different type of tenancy and any implications.
11 Viewing of the property is arranged. The tenant has 24 hours to make a decision after viewing.
12 If the property is not accepted, details of why the property was refused need to be noted in the monitoring form. The nominating partner can then follow up any further offers made.
13 If the property is accepted arrangements are made for the tenant to move and to relinquish their current tenancy. If supporting agencies are involved liaison takes place to ensure that support is available in the area where the tenant is moving to.
14 Once the move has taken place the nominating partner owes the receiving partner a property of equal size, although partners have agreed some flexibility on this and have based the agreement on number of bedrooms owed. The receiving partner can take up the reciprocal using the vacated property or can bank a property to call in at a later date. The nominating partner will need to make a suitable property available to the receiving partner as soon as possible.
15 Once the move has taken place the nominating partner completes the ‘Reciprocal Outcome’ monitoring section (4) in the ‘Urgent Property Request Form’ and sends the completed form to the NL Homelessness Coordinator for monitoring and evaluation through the North London Sub Region Housing Needs Group.
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