Decision details

Creation of H&F Social Lettings Agency

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The council has initiated a project to look at the feasibility of establishing a Social Lettings Agency in the Borough and to produce a recommended model.

Through the agency, the Council could aim to compete with private letting agencies in the private rented sector through provision of tenant sourcing and letting services at competitive fees.

The agency would also supplement the Council’s mainstream operations by providing access to other sources of accommodation in the private rented sector for the purposes of homelessness prevention and to those requiring temporary accommodation.

Decision:

1.1. That the Council establishes a social lettings agency that will co-locate with the existing Housing Property Procurement service.

 

1.2. To approve expenditure of £200,290 to initiate phase two of the project that will include setting up, recruiting to, marketing and launching the social lettings agency funded from an invest to save bid.

 

1.3. To delegate to the Cabinet Member for Housing, in consultation with Director of Housing Growth & Strategy and Commercial Director, consideration of the options and the decision to establish the social lettings agency from the Council’s Local Authority Trading Company.

 

1.4. To delegate to the Cabinet Member for Housing, in consultation with Director of Housing Growth & Strategy and Commercial Director, to agree the project plan for phase two and to progress setting up the agency.

 

Report author: Labab Lubab

Publication date: 09/11/2016

Date of decision: 07/11/2016

Decided at meeting: 07/11/2016 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: