“For too long, too many social tenants have lived in fear of neighbours from hell, whose nasty and vicious behaviour blights their neighbourhoods. Victims and witnesses often have to continue living side by side with the perpetrators while action to evict them drags on for many months and sometimes years”
Grant Shapps 11th January 2011
Over the past 10 years, the housing world has seen a significant transformation that has resulted in a large numbers of private and registered social landlords (RSLs) operating in most regions.
With respect to Anti Social Behaviour (ASB), Registered Social Landlords (RSL’s) have an increasingly active role to play in managing these issues with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) set to take ownership of the Respect Standard.
The diversity and evolving role of the housing market makes it increasingly critical that organisations can establish any special needs or the suitability of prospective tenants. For example understanding whether they are vulnerable, have been involved in ASB, owe significant rent arrears or other forms of payments to their previous landlord.
This ability to establish ‘previous tenancy history’ lies at the heart of delivering improved financial efficiency, protecting the vulnerable and preventing homelessness.
Specifically private landlords and RSLs need to be able to exchange information between themselves about their existing and prospective tenants. At minimum, prospective landlords and RSLs need to be aware of whether;
- Any special needs or vulnerablities
- The applicant has / had rent arrears at their previous tenancies?
- They (or any family members or visitors) engaged in ASB at their previous tenancies?
- They damaged their previous property?
- The applicant (or household member) has multiple tenancies?
The challenge is how to answer these questions and deliver this ‘previous tenancy history’ within a legal and secure data sharing framework.
What we offer
By enabling private landlords, RSL’s and Local Authorities to share ‘tenancy’ data; our Single View of Tenancy (SVOT) solution delivers answers to these key questions when a new tenant applies for accommodation.
Simple to implement, the SVOT is delivered using our Orion Real Time Search solution can quickly deliver benefits to participating organisations. The solution has been designed to satisfy the most rigorous data sharing controls and security, and has been reviewed by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The service has been designed around the concept of ‘social housing regional data sharing hubs’ that bring data together from a range of partner organisations, including RSL’s and Local Authorities.
The solution is deployed on a 'Cloud' computing basis at a data centre that is being accredited to sit on the secure GovConnect network. Because of this approach the solution does not require a big technology integration / implementation project at client sites and can be implemented in a few months.
This technology model enables us to deliver the solution as a fully hosted service at a highly competitive price point.
In summary, the SVOT solution helps private landlords, RSL’s and Local Authorities deliver increased efficiencies, protect their housing assets and protect their tenants. The solution can be delivered in a highly secure fashion with no impact on local technology solutions.
This proposition, and a similar proposition around the proposed AGMA Accredited Landlord Scheme, is currently under consideration with Salford CC, City West and Salix Homes, with regard being given to a Salford pilot.