1. Welcome to … Presentation by Rachel ChiuE:

2. Spring Housing Association is a social letting agency founded in 2014.
We are a charity working with people in need of accommodation and tenancy related support across the West Midlands. We work in conjunction with the private sector to provide general needs and specialist services to:
People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Refugees
Care leavers
We deliver a range of person centred services to support individuals to obtain, maintain and sustain accommodation long term.

3. Spring Housing Association Aims and Mission Statement
To Provide high quality accommodation for people in housing need.
To prevent and reduce Homelessness.
To assist people on a journey away from housing need towards a future of stability, happiness and independence.
Mission Statement
“To Create long term prosperity by investing to prevent homelessness, poverty and social isolation and to inspire and unlock peoples potential.”

4. Where we work We work currently across 6 local authorities:
Young People
Refugee
Homelessness
Birmingham 
Sandwell
Staffordshire
Shropshire
Worcester
Wolverhampton

5. Our Business Model Lease accommodation from Private Sector Landlords
Rent PSL Properties for those in housing need
We work with landlords
Before
During &
After Sign up.

6. Leasing to Spring No agency / letting fees
All lease documentation work undertaken by Spring
Guaranteed rental income, no voids
Overall management of day to day and emergency housing management issues
Checks to properties
Supporting vulnerable people to obtain accommodation
All day to day repairs are managed by our In house repairs team
We only work with quality, reputable landlords

7. Flexible arrangements for property
. We have been approached directly by a number of buy to let landlords – accidental landlords who wish to let properties for a social purpose, these include to refugees, and homeless families. Approx 10 properties
. Hope Projects – approached by landlords in the same way as above. They hold the lease, we manage the properties. Tenants are refugee families, they work or claim benefits. We agree a fee with Hope Projects which provides income for their work.
Working with a housing association to convert a former care home to shared living.

8. Our Relationship with Landlords
Before Lease
During Lease
After Lease Expires
Source Properties
Full repair Lease (bar Structural)
View and agree Schedule of conditions
Health & Safety Certificates
Spring draft legal documents
Rent payments in advance
Keys handed over
Weekly checks on property
Spring undertake all housing management functions
Repairs, ASBO, rents
Spring undertakes annual and periodic checks
No VOID LOSS to landlord – guaranteed rental income
Named relationship advisory
Notice provided in line with lease
Property returned in line with Schedule of Conditions

9. Our Experience
Spring currently works with over 70 landlords across 6 different local authorities
providing over 530 units of accommodation to those in need.
We have experience of working with Private Sector Landlords and also other housing associations
We support a wide range of clients-

10. How we make a difference…
housed over 600 people, who have used Spring as a stepping stone into securing longer term housing, employment, training and volunteering opportunities.
327 people in that period have had a positive move on to their own accommodation.
We have supported people to access health services and social care.
44 of our customers have found work with our support.
54 people accessed our rent relief fund.
64 people are in engaged in formal training/volunteering.
6 tenants have been employed by Spring, 6 employed externally through volunteering route.
 60% of our tenants are refugees

11. Rachel Chiu – Head of Business Development