AFFORDABLE HOUSING DIRECTORY Updated 2013 1 Contents What is affordable housing? 2 How much affordable housing does Rushcliffe require? 3 How to use this directory 4 General needs housing: 6 Bedsit apartments, one bedroom apartments and one bedroom maisonettes: 6 In the West Bridgford area 6 In other areas of Rushcliffe 7 Two bedroom apartments, two bedroom houses and two bedroom maisonettes: 8 In the West Bridgford area 8 In other areas of Rushcliffe 9 Three and four bedroom houses, apartments and maisonettes: 11 In West Bridgford 11 In other areas of Rushcliffe 12 Summary chart of general needs accommodation 15 General housing for older people and disabled people: 17 In West Bridgford 17 In other areas of Rushcliffe 17 Summary chart of general housing for older people and disabled people 20 Sheltered accommodation for older people: 22 In West Bridgford 22 In other areas of Rushcliffe 23 Summary chart of accommodation for older people 24 Specialist accommodation 26 In West Bridgford 26 Emergency accommodation 26 In West Bridgford 26 In other areas 27 Accommodation for Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) groups 27 Intermediate housing 28 In West Bridgford 29 In other areas of Rushcliffe 29 Summary chart of intermediate housing 31 Exploring the Private Rented Sector 33 Support in the home through the Home Alarm Service 34 Registered Provider contact information 35 Updates to this directory 39 2 What is affordable housing? Affordable housing includes social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing (both for rent and sale), provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the open market. Affordable housing should include provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing. The three types of affordable housing are defined below. Affordable homes in West Bridgford Social rented housing is rented housing owned by Registered Providers (RPs), for which guideline target rents are determined by the Government to ensure that they are lower than market rents and are affordable to those most in need. The majority of affordable housing in the Rushcliffe area is social rented housing, managed by Metropolitan (RP). Affordable Rent (a new product introduced by the Government in 2011) differs from social rent in that rents are higher (up to 80% of a market rent for the same property) and in most cases the property is let for a fixed term (normally for a minimum of 5 years). Properties are let by local authorities or private Registered Providers of Social Housing to households who are eligible for social rented housing. The increased rent payable on these properties will be used to reinvest new affordable housing. At the end of the tenancy, the landlord will decide whether the tenant should still benefit from the property or whether they should be required to seek alternative accommodation. Most new developments which require funding from the Homes & Communities Agency should be for Affordable Rent. Social rent has not been grant funded since April 2011 3 and ‘traditional’ intermediate housing is now only grant funded in exceptional circumstances. Intermediate housing helps social tenants, first time buyers, keyworkers and households earning less than £60,000 a year to buy a share of a property and get onto the property ladder. • The main form of intermediate housing is called shared ownership. You buy a share (between 25% and 75%) of the equity in your home from a housing association. You pay a mortgage on the part you own plus a controlled rent on the part you don’t own. You can buy additional shares until you own the property outright (except on some rural sites. • The other form is the Help to Buy Equity Loans scheme (formerly First Buy, formerly HomeBuy Direct) – you put down at least a 5% deposit; the government loans you up to 20% of the cost; you take out a mortgage for the remaining cost. The government loan is interest free for 5 years; after this time, a small annual fee is charged. This is counted as affordable housing because the loans are recycled by the HCA as they are repaid. How much Affordable Housing does Rushcliffe require? The Borough Council is committed to increasing the levels of affordable housing in Rushcliffe and we currently seek an affordable housing requirement of 30% on developments of 15 or more dwellings or 0.5 hectares or more. This requirement is set out in the Borough Council’s Local Plan, which is currently in the process of being updated. As part of the work that has been carried out to support the development of this new Local Plan, two important specific affordable housing studies have been commissioned to help us decide future thresholds. The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2009 and updated in 2012) looks specifically at housing need in the Borough. The Affordable Housing Viability Assessment (2009) looks more specifically at the viability of affordable housing targets in different parts of the Borough. Affordable apartments under construction in West Bridgford 4 How to use this directory The information in this directory is meant to act as a guide to the types of affordable housing that is available in different areas of Rushcliffe. However, users need to be aware that most of the properties will already be let and it is impossible to predict when a property may become available in the future. If you are looking for social housing in a particular area, the first thing you need to think about is the type of property that is appropriate for you and your family. Although the policies of different RPs vary, they will all try to match properties to the needs of the applicants. This means that single people will be unlikely to be allocated two bedroom properties and the largest properties will usually be allocated to the largest families. As a general guide: Single People should look at one and two bedroom apartments and bedsits. Couples without children should look at one or two bedroom apartments and maisonettes. Families with children should consider the size and age of their families. Those with only one child may be allocated two bedroom apartments, maisonettes or houses, while those with larger families may be considered for three or four bedroom houses. Older people can consider one or two bedroom bungalows or apartments that have been designated for older people. These are not only for people of pensionable age, and are often made available to people in their fifties, although allocation policies differ between RPs. People with physical disabilities should look at appropriately sized bungalows or adapted apartments. Single people and couples may also be considered for bedsits and bungalows or apartments that have been designated for older people People in need of specialist support will find a small amount of relevant supported housing listed. People in need of emergency accommodation will find a small amount of temporary accommodation listed. If you are homeless, or need emergency rehousing, you should contact the Council’s Housing Options Team for advice. Please note – these guidelines are not rigid and you should examine the allocations policies of each RP to find out exactly what kinds of properties they may be offered. Once you have some idea of the type and size of properties that would be suitable for you, use the property lists in this directory to find out the number of properties of that type which are available in the areas you are seeking housing. This will give you some idea of the likelihood of a suitable property becoming available. 5 You should also look at the turnover of the properties. For the purpose of this directory: High turnover is where a vacancy arises on average every six months or under, Medium turnover is when a vacancy arises on average every six months to two years, Low turnover is when a vacancy arises on average less often than every two years. This should also give you some idea of how often vacancies might arise. Choice Based Lettings (Homesearch) In order to be considered for a home, you will need to have registered with Choice Based Lettings (CBL). CBL, also known as Homesearch, is a new way of letting social housing in Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe. When a home becomes available, instead of your local council offering the home through a waiting list, you will be able to place a bid for any suitable home you are interested in. This is not a financial bid but an expression of interest in that home. Homes will be advertised every week on the internet, and in public places such as council offices and libraries. Before you place a bid on a home you will need to have registered with Homesearch. You can register online at www.home-search.org.uk Further information on the CBL process, including guidance on the housing allocations policy, can be found on the Homesearch website at http://www.home-search.org.uk If you are in urgent need of housing or need advice on the options available to you, the Housing Options Team at Rushcliffe Borough Council may be able to help you. To arrange an appointment with them, please call 0115 914 8326 or email [email protected] . Remember both Rushcliffe Borough Council and the RPs are concerned with providing housing for people in need. 6 General Needs housing Bedsit apartments, one bedroom apartments and one bedroom maisonettes West Bridgford Location Number & type of property Landlord Turnover Abbey 54 one bedroom apartments Metropolitan Medium Edwalton 83 one bedroom apartments Metropolitan High Lady Bay 42 one bedroom apartments Metropolitan Medium Nottingham Lady Bay 1 one bedroom apartment Community No data Housing As.