This document provides information about the Windrush Alliance Housing Association (WALHA). It summarizes that WALHA was established in 2003 to provide affordable social housing and tackle empty properties. Its overall aims are to deliver homes, economic growth and jobs while bringing empty properties back into use as affordable and decent homes. In 2011, it became a registered housing association and has since refurbished 30 empty properties in Nottingham. The document outlines some of WALHA's challenges and solutions, which include partnering with other organizations from both the public and private sectors. It provides details on its tiered approaches to refurbishing properties rapidly and generating financing. The goal is to provide decent, quality, and safe housing while bringing additional resources

1. WINDRUSH ALLIANCE
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Trevor Fothergill
Housing Director/CEO

2. Who we are
• Windrush Alliance was established as a voluntary
organisation in 2003 when we lunched Lifeline
Community Housing.
• We subsequently embarked on the Empty Homes
Campaign and have contributed to the empty
property development PATHWAY Housing
Programme with a commitment to tackle empty
Properties and provide affordable social housing.

3. Our overall Aim is to
• Working with people and places to deliver
homes, economic growth and jobs
• Bring empty Properties Back into use and ensure
that the are Affordable Homes and Decent
Homes
• Play a key role in property and Land
regeneration to develop homes for the future

4. WALHA
•
In 2011 we became a registered housing
association (WALHA) and subsequently
was successful in receiving EHCGP (Empty
Homes Community Grants Programme)
to bring back into 30 empty properties in
Nottingham

5. Challenges
• Identify empty Properties
• Ensure a rapid – return of empty properties – avoiding high cost and
running expenditure ie, refurbishment problems council tax – loss
rental
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Sticking to budget
Generating additional finance
Unchartered waters – Having clear direction and navigation
Dealing with the unexpected – problem solving and ability to adapt
House clearance/garden clearance/
Building Confidence with Landlords and Local Authority
Meeting targets and improving performances

6. Partnership-Partnership
Public sector – partnership Local Authority Empty
Property Officer
Local authority – Empty Property Officer who will be
aware of problematic empty property. Disemate
information about your scheme connecting your
scheme with landlords
Land Registry – Identifying Empty Properties
Local Authority Housing Option Schemes – returning
the property back into use

7. Solutions.
Partnership – Partnership – Partnership
Private – partnership Landlords
Building confidence with landlords regarding time scale to return their empty
property back into use and property management during the lease period.
Private – partnership with local businesses/suppliers, business opportunities
– house/garden clearance (registered waste carriers)landscaping. Local
Suppliers varied – value for money/lifespan
Media – press release TV, Radio, Press , and publicity
Community – Partnership/involvement, consultations and public meetings
(ie ex offenders) and improving neighbourhoods
Third Sector - partnerships –

8. Solutions through partnership.
Synergy
‘A state in which two or more things
work together in a particularly way that
produces an effect greater the sum of
their individual effects’

9. Working in partnership with organisations with
similar synergy – objectives sharing resources
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Construction Skills/Training provider
Probation Trust – Unpaid Work
YMCA Training
Colleges
Groundwork’s
CVS (Council Voluntary Services)
H.A.C.T (Information, consultancy, advice,
information)

10. Teiring solutions Rapid returns
1
• Very derelict, new windows and doors,
roof, and major interior, structural
construction works.
2
• New central heating, electrics, kitchen,
bathroom, ground works painting and
decorating throughout. Gas Safe, and
Electric.
3
• Painting & decorating, wired smoke
detection, bathroom extractor, GAS Safe
and Electric. Groundwork's.

11. Finance
•
Negotiate rent free periods – depending level of
grant 3-6 months
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Encourage Landlords to contribute
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Council Tax (150%) Liability some landlords will
pay
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Partnership organisation contribution (materials)
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Banks and lenders

12. Decent / Quality/ Safe
Accommodation
• Taking on empty properties with quick turn around and low cost
• Meeting the decent home standard (HCA)
• Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) DASH Accreditation
• DASH aims to improve housing conditions in the private sector, with
particular emphasis on the private rented sector
• Mechanism – for bringing empty property back to market
• (professional cleaning company)
• (Allocations & Tenancy Manager)
• Local Authority Housing Option schemes
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(Maintenance and Repairs)

13. Successes and Opportunities
* Bringing back into use on average one empty property every six weeks. So far
refurbished 10 out 30 empty properties.
* Provided additional housing resources for the local authority
2-3 bedroom family homes and for single people.
* Provide a practical resource for the authority to tackle empty properties and
pathway to bring these back into use for people in their area
* Skills training and job creation for over 20 people.
(Enabling local people to contribute to the transformation of their neighbourhood)
* Contributed to the social and local economy through contractual work
* Presented with commercial opportunities
(above shop accommodation/offices)
* Been able to develop new and creative ideas to provide practical solutions for
Social housing and sustainability
* P.A.D - (Partnership accommodation developments
Providing affordable housing for Families, single people, ex offenders,

14. QUESTIONS?