Neighbourhood renewal and new homes

This course examines the practical and legal issues you need to consider when decanting tenants and introduces you to the main elements of the new Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and the implications for social and private sector housing.

To give you an overview of the development process and how local authorities, RSLs and other agencies can work together in partnership. To help you develop strategies to stimulate new confidence and prosperity in your local housing market. To give you an understanding of the issues and approaches involved in neighbourhood management and how they apply to your area of responsibility.

Learning outcome: 

At the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Explain the importance of a strategic approach and its components
  • Plan the decanting of tenants as part of a neighbourhood renewal programme
  • Assess the effects of the law
  • Distinguish between mandatory and discretionary payments
  • Evaluate and negotiate decanting agreements
  • Apply current good practice and investigate the need for excellent communication with tenants and Identify and interpret the different categories of ratings of housing hazard
  • Look at the 2004 Housing Act Regulations
  • Consider the effects on the Decent Homes Standard
  • Examine the enforcement framework and courses of action available to local authorities where they have a duty or power to act
  • Make appropriate assessments based on the risk to the potential occupant who is most vulnerable to that risk
  • Check DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government – formerly the ODPM) guidance on Housing Renewal
  • Weigh up the implications for social and private sector housing
  • Appreciate the issues for your organisation(s)
  • Examine the strategic context for development
  • Think through the stages of the development process
  • Identify the different types of development and how they apply
  • Consider funding for development
  • Discuss the role of agencies involved and how they relate together
  • Appreciate the role of development in achieving sustainable communities
  • Identify indicators of market failure and set up systems for monitoring the health of the market
  • Examine the options available, new initiatives and good practice in this area e.g. Homeswaps
  • Examine techniques for involving the community in developing strategies for their area and persuading homeowners of the need for market renewal strategies
  • Identify opportunities to work with other local authorities at a sub regional level
  • Examine the implications of the proposals in the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 including the extension of business planning zones to promote development in deprived areas and changes to Compulsory Purchase rules
  • Draw on the findings coming out of the market renewal pathfinders and others
  • Examine the role and objectives of the Housing and Employment Mobility Service (HEMS) to improve mobility throughout the UK including the labour mobility of social housing tenants
  • Identify the principles of neighbourhood management in the National Strategy Action Plan and how to apply them
  • Evaluate the potential role of neighbourhood managers and neighbourhood warden schemes in your area
  • Understand what is meant by a sustainable community and how neighbourhood management can contribute to the sustainability agenda
  • Plan your organisation’s strategy to address the needs of your area
  • Explain how neighbourhood management fits in to the regeneration agenda and housing context
  • Evaluate practical measures required to create neighbourhood management schemes, including neighbourhood profiles and neighbourhood plans
  • Identify relevant partnerships including the police, health services, development trusts, RSLs and regeneration companies
  • Identify emerging good practice examples

Suitable for:

  • Staff involved in neighbourhood renewal projects and other refurbishment programmes.
  • People working in housing management, maintenance and renewal in the social and private rented sectors. Tenants and tenants’ groups and officers delivering housing strategies for all tenures in their area.
  • Staff new to working in development.
  • Anyone involved in putting together strategies to renew the local housing market in their area.
  • Anyone responsible for neighbourhood management projects and working on area regeneration initiatives.

Content:

  • Decanting tenants
  • Housing Health and Safety Rating System
  • Introduction to Development and Regeneration
  • Market Renewal Strategies
  • Neighbourhood management