Lambeth Sheltered Housing Service Priorities- What tenants told us - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Lambeth Sheltered Housing Service

Priorities- What tenants told us • Maintenance and Repairs • A morning call/daily contact • A staff presence at each scheme • Making sure carers turn up • Providing day to day advice

Additional Requirements • The cost of the service • Who pays the charge • Easier billing • Activities for those that want them • Better maintenance of homes and schemes

Service Proposals • Provide a full time manager at each scheme- Monday-Friday • Provide an enhanced on-site housing management service • Introduce a sheltered handyperson service for small jobs/repairs • Introduce a cycle of planned maintenance

Charges Proposals • Replace the current weekly £16 support charge with a weekly £16 service charge paid together with rent • £13 of weekly charge is eligible for Housing Benefit (HB) • £3 of weekly charge is not eligible for HB but will be introduced over 3 years ( Starts at £1 and then increased by £1 each year for 2 further years )

Housing Benefit Eligible • 83% of Tenants receive HB No HB 17% • Most of the new charge (£13)can be Part HB paid by HB 18% Full HB • A small part of the 65% charge (£3) cannot be paid by HB

Can Housing Benefit cover the cost? YES- Housing NO- support Reporting repairs Making sure carers turn up Arranging maintenance Call alarm service (Careline24) Staff presence on site Arranging activities Morning call Equipment maintenance Showing new tenants round Managing scheme security £13 per week £3 per week

Example 1- Tenant Receiving HB Current Proposed Current Proposed rent/charges (*year 1) rent/charges (*year 1) Basic Rent £85.00 £85.00 Basic Rent £85.00 £85.00 Service charges (e.g. communal lighting, £3.00 £3.00 Service Charges (Heating Hot water etc.) £13.50 £13.50 cleaning etc.) HB eligible Water Rates £5.50 £5.50 Service charges (e.g. Heating, Water rates etc.) £15.00 £15.00 New Service Charge £0.00 £13.00 Not HB eligible Scheme management £0.00 £1.00* Proposed new service charge Support Scheme management (HB) £0.00 £13.00 TOTAL £104.00 £120.00 Support £0.00 *£1.00 Housing Benefit £98.50 £98.50 TOTAL rent and service charges £103.00 £117.00 Tenants weekly charge £5.50 £6.50* Housing benefit £88.00 £101.00 SUPPORT CHARGE £16.00 £0.00 Weekly rent charges to pay £15.00 *£16.00 Weekly support charge £0.00 £0.00 TOTAL rent and support charges £15.00 £16.00

Example 2- Tenant Not Receiving HB Current Proposed Current Proposed rent/charges (*year 1) rent/charges (*year 1) Basic rent £85.00 £85.00 Basic Rent £85.00 £85.00 Service charges (e.g. communal lighting, £3.00 £3.00 Service Charges (Heating Hot water etc.) £13.50 £13.50 cleaning etc.) HB eligible Water Rates £5.50 £5.50 Service Charges (e.g. Heating, water rates etc.) £15.00 £15.00 New Service Charge £0.00 £13.00 Not HB eligible Scheme management £0.00 £1.00* Proposed new service charge Support Scheme management (HB) £0.00 £13.00 TOTAL £104.00 £120.00 Support £0.00 *£1.00 Housing Benefit £98.50 £98.50 TOTAL rent and service charges £103.00 £117.00 Tenants weekly charge £5.50 £6.50* Housing benefit £0.00 £0.00 SUPPORT CHARGE £16.00 £0.00 Weekly rent charges to pay £103.00 *£117.00 Weekly support charge £16.00 £0.00 Total rent and support charges £119.00 £117.00

Changes to Charging • The current support charge will end when the new service charge starts • Some people who receive HB also pay the current support charge • £3 of weekly charge is not HB eligible but will be introduced over 3 yea rs ( Starts at £1 weekly and then increased by £1 each year for 2 further years- April 2017 )

What do we do next? • Consult with all tenants (April /May 2015)- Please complete the survey • Develop the service specification with staff and Housing managers • Involve trade unions • Report to Cabinet (June 2015) • Introduce new arrangements (Sep 15)

Please tell us what you think You can • Attend one of the scheme meetings planned in April or May • Complete the survey available from your Scheme Manager and return it in the Freepost envelope • Complete the on-line survey at: www.lambeth.gov.uk/shsurvey • Telephone and speak to Urvisha Mistry on: 020 7926 3027