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The Regulatory Reform (housing assistance) Order 2002 gives local authorities power to introduce policies for private sector housing to provide assistance to individuals with renewals, repairs and adaptations in their homes through grants or loans. Local authorities must have an approved RRO policy in place. The policy was created in 2003 and has remained generally unchanged. Some of the schemes contained in the policy were no longer appropriate, so the policy had to be updated. A consultation was launched to seek views on the proposed new policy.
We asked respondents the extent to which they agreed with key changes that were made to the policy and the opportunity to give comments/opinions. A number of targeted emails sent to health and age related bodies and housing providers requested their comments. Finally an Equality Impact Assessment was undertaken to determine whether any protected characteristic group would be adversely or disproportionately affected by the change.
18 people responded to the online survey. When asked about each of the eight key changes to the policies, the overriding response showed support for all changes. The highest proportion of support was for the introduction of a Hospital Discharge Grant, implementing a Stay Put scheme and Home Repair Assistance scheme, all of which received 100% agree.
In the comments section, those who responded talked about the need to support vulnerable people with home adaptations and the need to ensure that budget is earmarked.
The outcomes of the consultation were considered in the report that went before the Council to decide whether to implement the changes. A response was offered to each of the comments provided in the report, for example acknowledgement that the very reason to change the policy is to ensure that vulnerable people are supported in home adaptations and enable people to remain in their home.
The report was taken to a number of meetings where it was agreed that the new draft proposals be implemented.
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