Services And What We Do

Housing Plus offers a range of housing and housing related services.

Projects undertaken cover the following areas of work:

Option Appraisals and Feasibility Studies:

We also worked with the lead consultants on two local authority option appraisal studies. Here our role was to develop and implement an awareness and consultation strategy to ensure the views of tenants were obtained during the development of options to be assessed, to inform the appraisal process and to influence the final recommendations.

Independent Advice to Tenants on Housing Stock Transfer:

We have been on Communities Scotland's Approved Panel of Independent Advisers since Housing Plus was established in 1992. Over the years we have worked on over 30 stock transfer assignments in Scotland and England, ranging from the transfer of small sheltered housing developments to transfers of over 10,000 houses.

We have provided independent information and advice to tenants of Scottish Homes, new town development corporations and local authorities. This has involved working closely with groups of tenant representatives to assess the legal, management, maintenance and financial aspects of the detailed proposals submitted by registered social landlords and providing impartial advice to tenants on the terms of the landlord proposals and the implications of transfer.

Regeneration Initiatives:

We are currently working as independent advisers to community representatives and tenants of Fife Council in four regeneration areas under the Fife Housing Regeneration Initiative.

In addition we have been involved in initiatives to:

• Assess the reasons for the high level of void council owned properties and developing possible solutions for a local authority.
• Assess the level of involvement of community organisations in a peripheral housing estate Developing a social profile of a Glasgow housing estate.

Support to Registered Social Landlord Steering Groups:

We have provided training, advice and support to a number of steering groups seeking registration. This has involved assisting with the development of business plans and policies and in the recruitment of staff and appointment of technical consultants. We have developed and delivered training programmes to suit the specific needs of each steering group and have provided assistance in the development of promotional and publicity material.

Consultancy Services to Registered Social Landlords:

We have worked extensively with registered social landlords on a wide range of projects including:

• Preparing detailed proposals for new and existing registered social landlords to acquire public sector housing stock and/or develop new housing.
• Developing tenant participation strategies.
• Training for management committee members and staff on topics including committee control and responsibilities, committee and staff roles, meeting Performance Standards, understanding finance and consulting and involving tenants.
• Providing advice and assistance on transfers of engagements and mergers.
• Carrying out organisational reviews and providing advice on the potential for expansion in geographical area and in the range of services provided.
• Undertaking structure reviews and providing advice on Rule changes and revisions to committee structure.
• Carrying out staff structure reviews.
• Providing interim director services.
• Assisting in the selection and appointment of senior staff.
• Carrying out feasibility studies to investigate mechanisms for the delivery of wider action initiatives for registered social landlords.
• Assisting smaller registered social landlords to draw up management agreements and appoint management agents.
• Negotiating loan finance for the purchase and upgrading of public sector housing stock.

Homelessness Research:

We have undertaken a considerable amount of research on the incidence and causes of homelessness, including:

• Examining existing housing provision, evaluating allocation policies and practices of housing providers and assessing the housing and support needs of single people.
• Assessing the extent, nature and causes of rough sleeping and homelessness in rural areas in the Highlands and developing responses to meet needs identified.
• Assessing the need for a day centre for single homeless people.
• Compiling an information leaflet detailing health care, advice and support services for single homeless people.
• Evaluating a stopover project and putting forward recommendations on good practice issues.

Special Needs and Community Care Research:

Projects undertaken include research in the following areas:

• Comparing revenue funding arrangements, support and organisational management in a range of supported housing projects in Scotland and England.
• Assessing the provision of respite care services across all client groups in Scotland and developing a data base of respite care service providers.
• Researching the effectiveness of joint planning arrangements between health boards, local authorities and voluntary organisations.
• Establishing a methodology, setting up a data base, quantifying existing housing and support provision and assessing future housing requirements for all special needs client groups in one of Glasgow’s housing estates.
• Co-ordinating community consultation on council proposals for the future care and support for older people.

Housing Market Studies, Housing Needs Assessments and Housing Strategies:

We have undertaken a number of research studies, particularly in rural areas, which have examined the impact of a number of key issues on housing need and demand, including: economic decline, seasonal employment, low wage economy, fluctuations of the tourist industry, the effect of the right to buy, in-migration, second homes and holiday homes. In addition we recently completed the preperation of a housing stategy for the vast area covering the Cairngorms National Park.

Consultation Exercises:

We have undertaken a considerable number of postal and face to face surveys to:

• Assess housing need.
• Measure satisfaction with landlord services.
• Obtain information on income to determine rent affordability levels.
• Obtain feedback on landlord proposals for housing stock transfer and ascertain levels of tenant support.

We have recently been appointed by Grampian Housing Association to set up and work with a Customer Panel to enable the Association to take full account of customer views, with the aim of continually improving it's standard of housing service.