We work with Planners, the Homes & Communities Agency and our Registered Provider partners in Brighton & Hove Affordable Housing Partnership to make sure that new affordable housing meets high standards. The 2011-2015 Affordable Housing Programme saw 522 new affordable homes developed. This includes completion of the first new Council homes in a generation at Balchin Court under the “New Homes for Neighbourhoods” programme that aims to delivery more than 200 new council homes over the next few years.
The council has appointed a dedicated Under-Occupation Officer to provide practical help and support and financial rewards to tenants wanting to downsize. In 2014/15 the Under-Occupation Officer work has supported households wanting to downsize to release more than 100 family sized homes and have helped overcrowded tenants move to larger homes, provided new homes for homeless families and helped house families with disabled members. We have seen increased interest from tenants wishing to downsize and it is anticipated that is trend will continue as the welfare reforms take hold.
Our Homemove scheme advertises council and housing association homes for rent and shared ownership. Homemove incorporates a mobility rating accommodation that indicates whether an available property is suitable for a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility. All new affordable housing that meets the wheelchair standard is advertised for rent before it is built in order to ensure that the features installed are designed around the specific needs of the future occupants.
To help tackle homelessness we have leased over 1,000 good quality houses and flats to help us minimise our use of B&B type accommodation which is detrimental to children’s welfare and linked to many poor health outcomes. We also provide quality housing solutions for Adult Social Care and Children’s Services which reduces the impact on those services. We have also leased accommodation to provide young people’s supported housing projects.