Presentation from the housing department within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets giving an overview of the local DFG delivery, presented at our DFG Champions Roadshow Spring 2018

1. DFG Champions Roadshow
Thursday 7th June 2018
DFGs in the Registered Provider and Private
Rented Sectors
Martin Ling – LB Tower Hamlets

2. National Context
• Nationally Housing Associations are using one-third of
the DFG budget but hold only 10% or so of the housing
stock. Even allowing for greater vulnerability of
tenants in the sector, this appears disproportionate.
• Evidence is emerging that the numbers of disabled
tenants in the private sector are approaching those in
the public sector, and yet private rented tenants
account for a tiny proportion of the adaptations budget

3. Regional Context
‘There is scope for some housing associations to invest more of their own funds
in adaptations and improvements, so that more funding for DFGs is available for
other homes.
The Mayor will work with councils and housing associations to agree a protocol
to ensure that housing associations contribute to the cost of adaptations, and
he will urge Government to increase the maximum individual grant to £45,000.
The Mayor expects social landlords to be well-informed about the accessibility
of their stock, including through tools such as the London Accessible Housing
Register’
The Mayor of London –London Housing Strategy May 2018

4. Housing Challenges for LBTH
• Nearly 20,000 people on the housing register.
with 9,000 people in substantial housing need
• Over 2,000 people in Temporary Accommodation
• Population of TH to increase by 26% by 2026
• Older population to increase by 6% (3400 people) by
2031
• Substantial health problems documented in both the
public and private rented sectors

5. A fast-growing population

6. Changing Tenure
Tenure 2003 % 2011 % 2017 %
Owner occupied 27308 31% 25339 23% 26,680 21%
Council owned (Rented) 24200 28% 12500 12% 11700 10%
Registered social
landlord (Rented)
17828 20% 26484 24% 29,500 24%
Private rented sector 17513 20% 41870 39% 52820 42%
Shared ownership 500 1% 2000 2% 3000 2%
Total 87349 108193 124700

7. DFGs and Registered Providers:
• RPs account for over 90% of LBTH DFG Spend
• LBTH has the smallest ‘older population’ in the UK and
the vast majority live in social housing
• 14 RPs are in receipt of DFG
• 45% of Jobs commissioned by the HIA / 55% of Jobs
commissioned by RPs using own contractors
• Spend is currently around £1.3m per year

8. LBTH and THHF DFG protocol
• Tower Hamlets Housing Forum is the umbrella group for
the Borough’s RPs
• Governed by an Executive Group and oversees 8 sub
groups
• THHF representatives sit on a number other Council
Boards
• Flagship initiatives include the Common Housing
Register, Project 120 bespoke adapted new build
programme, and DFG protocol

9. LBTH and THHF DFG protocol
• Developed through THHF Asset Management Group in
2014
• RPs contributed 50% of cost of Adaptations up to a
maximum of £5k per job
• RPs contributed £340k to the budget between 2014 and
2017
• Reviewed in 2016 and suspended in April 2017 following
uplift in national DFG budget

10. LBTH and RPs – issues
• Delays in RPs processing Occupational Health proposals often for
several months
• Often no dedicated officers within RPs to co-ordinate work
• Complexity of some cases means delay in agreeing adaptations – joint
site visits with HIA and RP surveyor before a decision
• Cost submitted by RP for standard adaptation sometimes in excess of
the costs from HIA contractor

11. LBTH and RPs – issues
• Very little evidence of re-use of adaptations despite Common
Housing Register arrangements – This raises questions over
of value for money, recycling, best use of property etc
• Maintenance of equipment – Additional service charge costs?
• Landlord or tenant applications? If the former ,it puts all social
housing tenants on the same footing - Why should a tenant
who has not legal interest in the property be means-tested for
work to the property?

12. LBTH and Private Rented sector
• 40% of homes privately rented and 6,000 ex ‘Right to
Buy’ properties privately rented
• Very high turnover – Young mobile population
• Ending of PRS tenancies now the main cause of
homelessness
• Increasing rate of Air B N B short term lets – 2nd
highest in London after Westminster

13. LBTH and Private Renters sector
• Short term insecure temporary tenancies – 6 months
ASTs are standard
• LBTH receives few applications from the Private
Rented sector
• Lack of knowledge, engagement and a very hard to
reach and often vulnerable population
• Instances of poor tenant / landlord relationships

14. LBTH and Private Renters – solutions
• Substantial political focus
• LBTH Private Sector Tenants Charter
• Landlord and Tenant ‘education’
• Private Sector Licensing schemes
• Additional enforcement and advice

15. Items for Discussion
How can we increase the strategic ‘ buy in’ from Registered
providers to the DFG programme which the Mayor of London
aspires to? – Integrated teams, role of Trusted Assessors?
Is it possible to increase take up of DFG by private sector renters
given their uncertain tenancy status?
How can Councils in conjunction with partners shape a coherent
Strategic approach to both sectors which provides an equitable
and fit for purpose service?