1. Let’s Rent Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Lettings Agency Model
Hamid Khan - Head of Housing Needs, Central Bedfordshire Council Alan Elborough - Settled Housing Solutions Consultancy Service LLP (Commercial Partner) Jim McLaughlin - Settled Housing Solutions Consultancy Service LLP (Commercial Partner)
Central Bedfordshire Council

2. Central Bedfordshire – Strategic context of Let’s Rent
Contributes to wider strategic agenda
Homeless strategy
Choice and control
Homelessness prevention
Increase housing supply
Health, sustainable communities
Partnerships and community engagement helps to shape and support the delivery of strategic housing priorities

3. Why is Central Bedfordshire Council adopting this approach?
Desire of the council to take forward the Rugg Review/CLG recommendations
Increase customer choice and access to good quality, well managed accommodation across the whole of Central Bedfordshire.
To encourage a professional local PRS market
To develop a commercially viable, sustainable and flexible PRS housing model for the long term in partnership
Represent real value for money
Integrate PRS into Central Bedfordshire’s Choice Based Letting Scheme

4. Local Context
New Unitary Authority
Central Bedfordshire covers 716 Sq. Km – Population is 225,000
Predominantly rural though there are urbanised areas and contains pockets of deprivation with 4 wards in top 10 of poorest indices
6% BME community
Population estimated to increase to 282,000 by 2021
Affordability – House prices have increased by 94% between 2000 – 2008
Between Jan 2007 – Aug 2009 there was a 138% increase in JSA claimants compared to 65% nationally

5. The unique features of Let’s Rent
Combines a regulatory framework with a housing supply model
Developed in partnership with both public and private sector stakeholders
These include the PRS, Housing Advice & Options, HB, Environmental Health, Community Safety, Floating Support
Delivering a ‘Shared Vision’ in partnership
Tenancy sustainment is at the heart of a flexible model that recognises that ‘one size does not fit all’

6. The unique features of Let’s Rent continued
Promotes high quality standards with focus on sustainability and liveability
Meets diverse housing needs, promotes equality through sustainability
Incorporates property accreditation and licensing of letting agents to ensure accommodation regulated to agreed standards
Effective commissioning and procurement provides better value for money
Promotes economic regeneration

7. Best use of resource - outcomes
Funded via the Homelessness Prevention Fund
Innovative use of insurance policies and indemnities
Reduction in repeat homelessness costs
Reduction in TA costs
Reduction in homelessness administration costs
Prevention of homelessness
Improved choice for customers
Sustainable homes/Increase housing supply

8. Costs and projected savings for 80 households
One month’s rent/deposit (£1,200)* x 80 tenancies (Former rent deposit scheme)
£96,000
Let’s Rent Insurance £200 x 80 tenancies
£16,000
Total potential efficiencies to the council
£80,000

9. How the LLA model was developed
Cultivating partnerships
Consultation
Promoting ownership
Understanding housing need
Understanding the business of letting
Learning

10. Barriers overcome Negative perceptions of stakeholders
Client group issues
Unique nature of the environment and geography of the area
Managing expectations
Meeting housing need

11. Key Milestones
Evidence base on the local PRS collected and evaluated
Conducted a review of all internal services that currently provide and promote services to the local PRS
Developed unified processes and procedures
Formulated LLA Service Level Agreements (SLA) between the Housing Service and the Housing Benefit Service, the local Floating Tenancy Support Service and the Professional Lettings and Managing Agents

12. Key milestones (cont) Cost Reduction Business Model developed.
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Tenancy Support and Sustainment Plan developed.
Let’s Rent Awareness Training Sessions
Let’s Rent manual produced
Full Executive Members Sign off obtained Feb 2010
Let’s Rent scheduled to be launched in March 2010

13. Typical scenario Married couple with child, one more on the way
Living with mother while waiting for council housing
Husband has just lost job at Vauxhall plant in Luton
Conflict increasing between family
Family wish to remain in the area for schooling
No funds to access PRS accommodation
Family seek assistance from Housing Advice & Options
Referred to Let’s Rent
Housing needs assessment completed

14. Outcome Referred to Let’s Rent Housing needs assessment completed
Offered choice of good quality, well managed accommodation in the area through licensed letting agent
Assisted with HB application
Offered floating tenancy support
Family move in
Tenancy managed by letting agent in accordance with professional licensing scheme
Monthly performance monitoring

15. Testimonials
“The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) is very pleased to support Central Bedfordshire Council’s new private rented sector housing option, Let’s Rent.
By seeking the expertise and views of local ARLA Licensed Letting Agents during the development phase of the project, Let’s Rent can now be confidently promoted to both tenants and local landlords as a sustainable housing option which offers management by professionally qualified staff and consumer protection for all parties.
We also hope that the commercial success of Let’s Rent will also incentivise other unregulated letting agents to join the ARLA Licensed Scheme and by doing so offer both tenants and landlords greater choice of professionally regulated letting agents in the Central Bedfordshire area”.
Ian Potter –Operations Manager – Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)

16. Testimonials
“Central Bedfordshire's 'Let's Rent' Local Lettings Agency Model strikes the right balance between promoting better housing management standards and equalising rental choices for those in need of housing, which were key recommendations highlighted within the Rugg Review of the Private Rented Sector.
We are encouraged that Central Bedfordshire Council recognises the vital role NALS licensed lettings and managing agents can play in not only supplying suitable accommodation but also promoting high standards and professionalism in the local private rented sector ”.
Isobel Thompson - Operations Director - National Approved Letting Scheme