2. Lesly Curtis Engagement and Enforcement Team (EET) Poole Housing Partnership

3. Role of Engagement and Enforcement Team
Serious ASB / Nuisance
Hoarding / Property condition
Maximum 30 cases across two officers
Managed by in-house Solicitor
Poole Housing Partnership

4. EET Criteria High Priority case Frequent incidents
Significant risk of harm to either party
High impact on HM function
Risk to mental / physical health
No real engagement with PHP
No real engagement with support agencies
Poole Housing Partnership

5. Aims Intensive intervention De-escalate Engage with PHP
Engage with support
Sustain tenancy
Move to more suitable accommodation
Take prompt and effective legal action
Poole Housing Partnership

6. Hoarding

7. Background
PHP is an ALMO who manage Poole Borough Council housing stock
This consists of 4,481 properties
3,221 General Needs properties
567 Leasehold properties
1,260 Sheltered Housing and extra care
Poole Housing Partnership

9. Poole Housing Partnership

10. The Figures Sheltered Housing - 1,260 properties – 7 Hoarders known
General Needs – 3,221 properties – 29 Hoarders known
Other Authorities estimate the average cost of an individual case to be £35,000
This means the current cost to PHP and partner agencies could potentially exceed £1.25 million

11. The Tenant, Agencies or Housing?
Your tab or mine?
Who pays the cost?
The Tenant, Agencies or Housing?

12. Why is Hoarding an Issue?
Increases risk of fire
Impedes fire and rescue services
Compromises the health and safety of others– particularly in blocks of flats where fire / infestations can spread
Impacts on tenants health and wellbeing
Increases risk of harm to the tenant / household members
Increases likelihood of structural damage to properties / unreported repairs / non-access or neglect of the property
Devalues our asset
Clearance /repairs to the void property incur significant costs

13. Tools Non-legal interventions Meetings / case conference
Verbal warning
Written warning
Action plan
Contract of Expectations
Referral ( DFRS ,Support, Sustain, ASC, CYPSC, CMHT, HCS)
Poole Housing Partnership

14. Perseverance = success
Build relationship / trust
Honest / Non judgemental
Plan goals / picture aspirations.
Remain objective / No assumptions
Be aware of emotions / deflection tactics
Reward / Praise / build confidence

15. Define roles and expectations
Be honest (legal action is a possibility)
Provide appropriate information from outset
What do they want – longer term
How much can they do?
Don’t use the threat of eviction as a negotiation tool, but don’t discount it as a possible outcome
Starting is the hard part
Keep checking how they feel
Identify ‘treasures’
Dispel the ‘re-use’ argument
Recognise & reward results
Support the person through the trauma of change

16. Hoarders 18 women 12 men 3 Couples – no children living in the home
1 couple with two children
1 x 2 sisters
1 family consisting of Mum, daughter and granddaughter (questionable Hoarding)

17. Legal intervention Extension of introductory tenancy Injunction
Possession
Poole Housing Partnership

18. What do we do?
Follow a written procedure created to ensure consistency
Use a home condition assessment and hoarding questionnaire
Identify and involve other agencies
Ensure consistency and continuity by use of a structured action plan to keep staff and tenant focused on the aims
Implement an intensive work pattern – with weekly visits by support workers and enforcement officer
Adopt a hands on approach when needed to motivate and encourage
Use “normative” approach rather than “instrumental control”
Think outside of the box

19. Single Male SPO
Before
After

20. Couple - clearance and support
Before
After

21. Results so far
12 out of 49 EET cases (25%) Hoarding/ Property condition
None evicted
1 Suspended Possession Order (by consent) – which is working well
2 were rehoused – smaller / more suitable accommodation / supported
2 resolved with verbal/ written warnings with no further support
3 engaging and making good progress with support
3 properties returned to satisfactory condition and being monitored
i.e. 50% either engaged and returned property to satisfactory condition or are well on the way to doing so with support
Only 1 not engaging

22. Contact details l.curtis@poole.gov.uk