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£26 to make a Decent Home?
Added: (Mon Aug 07 2006)
- BEGINS -
This release makes a comment on the recent research paper written by DTZ Pieda, highlights published by Inside Housing, concluding that funding for private sector Decent Homes projects is “woefully inadequate” and works out to just £26 per non-decent property.
Direct central government grants for private sector Decent Homes are low when compared to the scale of the problem. However, there is hope. Hestia, the Decent Homes managed services provider, presents some golden rules based on its proven Decent Homes methodology.
1. Optimise private sector contributions
The research reportedly states that, “'Even allowing for the leverage of private sector funds this lack of resources inhibits activity.” While this is probably true, it is worth noting the scale of leverage available from the Energy Efficiency Commitment. Following a recent project, Hestia reported that our local authority client installed £219,000 worth of insulation measures for a Council capital spend of just £46,000 thanks to efficiently managed EEC claims. Hestia has a proven methodology for optimising these funds by ring-fencing and making the claims in the most efficient way.
2. Concentrate on thermal comfort
There is no question that the number of non-decent homes is large. One estimate is 5.2 million properties just in England. However, research by the Joseph Rowntree foundation reveals that 84% of properties fail for just one reason.
Of those properties that fail for just one reason, 52% of those fail because of inadequate thermal comfort. Therefore concentrating on thermal comfort is a good starting strategy. Hestia has recorded that as a result of careful negotiation, EEC contribution rates for certain property types can be more than the actual cost of installation. Therefore, installing thermal comfort measures in some properties can actually generate additional contributions to a ‘Decent Homes’ budget.
3. Optimise the Warm Front scheme
Warm Front helps thousands of households every year. One of the results of a Hestia managed thermal comfort programme will be a set of Warm Front eligible households requiring measures. It is important that these cases are tracked and outcomes monitored as part of the overall programme since funds levered into the local authority from monitored referrals can help to boost outcomes and KPIs, thereby helping future funding bids.
4. Have a process in place for Warm Front top-ups and interventions
Certain cases such as terminally ill residents may warrant more speedy intervention than can be achieved by the Warm Front scheme, which is often subject to long delays more than 6 months. Householder contributions can be met by grants on a discretionary basis. This can represent extremely good value, perhaps delivering a brand new central heating system for a small top-up grant, perhaps only a few pounds in some cases.
5. Have a product ready for the able-to-pay sector
Households that do not meet grant criteria need to be included in the core of the programme. It is important that these householders do not resort to putting the cost of installations on their credit cards. Hestia operate a number of finance products, including an interest free loan product that has proven successful in assisting householders on marginally low incomes spread the cost of new or replacement central heating or other home repair costs. The scheme is operated in partnership with local authorities.
6. Measure everything
Funding applications will increasingly be based on performance metrics. It is important to obtain a Decent Homes baseline from an efficient survey process and then measure actual decency conversions and energy improvements. We predict that if local authorities quantify the benefits of intervention, it will result in increased success when bidding for further funds.
An approach
Hestia has a proven methodology for effecting thermal comfort improvements across all tenures, specialising in the owner occupied and privately rented sectors. Our methodology incorporates best value metrics such as Decent Homes conversion and SAP uplift enabling decision makers to justify and evaluate programmes in a methodical manner. Hestia has many years experience running such programmes on behalf of local authorities backed up by its Managed Services team of project managers, surveyors and contractors.
For more information contact Mohammed Haider on 0121 262 6412 or email mohammed.haider@hestiaservices.co.uk
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Contact: Bernie Bailey, Marketing Administrator
Tel: 0121 262 6406
Email: bernie.bailey@hestiaservices.co.uk
More information
Hestia would be delighted to discuss the details of our managed services with local authorities planning improvements to the services they offer to vulnerable householders, especially those in the private rented and owner occupied sectors.
Hestia is a leading housing and sustainable energy consultancy working in partnership with dynamic local authorities, housing associations, regeneration partnerships and government agencies. Hestia has a strong, well-established, national and regional client base, which it has built up since 1995. A key objective is to further develop a successful range of innovative solutions to ensure that we remain leading practitioners in our field.
To read more about Hestia and its managed housing services, please visit www.hestiaservices.co.uk
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Submitted by:
Bernie Bailey