West Lothian Home Choice 6 th November 2014 Siobhan Hilley Community Based Housing Officer

About West Lothian Homechoice TEAM BASED IN ALLOCATIONS WITHIN WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL FOCUSED ON PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING IN WEST LOTHIAN WORKING WITH LANDLORDS TO IMPROVE STANDARDS OF PRIVATE SECTOR TENANCIES ADVERTISE PRIVATE LETS AVAILABLE ON WEB SITE OFFER ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS ON ALL ASPECTS OF PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING OFFER DEPOSIT GUARANTEE SERVICE TO TENANTS WHO MAY WISH TO MOVE INTO PRIVATE LET TENANCY – TOOK OVER FROM THE CYRENIANS SMART MOVE SERVICE IN APRIL DEPOSIT GUARANTEE PILOT BEEN IN HOUSE SINCE JULY 2011

Numbers We had 252 referrals to the service last year. Currently we have 59 deposit guarantee's LIVE We have guaranteed 132 deposits since the scheme began 78 deposits were guaranteed last year In the full time we have had 8 claims which is around a 10% claim rate. We have paid out on 7 of the 8 claims. The average is around 10-15% so we are at the lower end. The total amount paid in claims is £ This is an average of £ pay-out per claim made.

Deposit Guarantee Service Guarantee a deposit for your tenant to allow you to pay this up in affordable weekly or monthly instalments to suit your needs. Support with setting up your tenancy including completing the sign up documents, property checklist and benefit applications. Support to help maintain the tenancy for the 1 st 6-12 months. This includes regular housing officer visits.

How does a tenant access this service? Contact us to request a referral Look for a private let Save!!! Accredited landlords/agents Secured a let? Please contact the West Lothian Home Choice Team

We will check Previous Anti-Social behaviour problems Rent arrears/Rechargeable repair arrears Support needs Previous tenancies – how they were managed/maintained

What we need Two references. 1. Must be from previous housing providers if you have held previous tenancies. 2. They can be from ex employers, teachers, health professionals if not. ID, Proof of Income, Bank/Post Office/Credit Union statements and proof of any benefits that you are entitled to

What happens next? We will contact you as a landlord/agent of the home you are hoping to move into and make sure they work within Scottish Core Standards or are Accredited through Landlord Accreditation Scotland. 1) Landlord Registration Number 2) Gas Safe Certificate 3) Energy Performance Certificate 4) Electrical Condition Report 5) Mortgage Permissions 6) Relevant Insurance Certificates 7) Hard wired smoke detectors What if the you don’t meet the Scottish Core Standards?

What happens next? Agree/refuse deposit Deposit amount agreed Initial payment amount agreed Regular payment amount agreed Sign up date agreed Sign up carried out including Inventory/Benefit forms if required Regular 6 weekly visits from dedicated housing officer

Private Sector Leasing West Lothian Council's housing department are currently looking at a number of options in regards to temporary accommodation stock. One of the options is to re-develop Private Sector Leasing and re- launch this service. Private Sector Leasing was extremely popular when it launched in West Lothian nearly 10 years ago. We would hope to develop the scheme so that it runs in conjunction with our West Lothian Home Choice Service and deposit guarantee. If you would be interested in more information please contact or call where your name will be added to our mailing list so we can update you about this service in the future.

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