Village Housing Initiative
The Village Housing Initiative allows small scale developments of affordable housing in rural communities on sites which might not otherwise be allocated for housing. This relaxation allows for up to two open market homes to be built to encourage sites to be offered for affordable housing and also provide a form of cross subsidy to enable the homes to be built.
Tenants Incentive Scheme
People living in rented housing which is now too large for their needs are being offered an incentive to move into smaller accommodation.
South Hams District Council has introduced a Tenant’s Incentive Scheme to provide a helping hand towards the financial costs of moving home. The funding has been made available through the use of second homes council tax.
Under the scheme, the district council will offer a cash incentive to people living in social rented housing to downsize to a smaller property which has at least one bedroom less than their current home.
Cllr Michael Saltern, Executive portfolio holder for Housing said: “We very successfully worked with Tor Homes to help three households in Ivybridge downsize their accommodation. This enabled the larger properties vacated to be re-let to families with a need for three bedrooms. I am really pleased that we are now in a position to be able to expand the scheme across the South Hams and potentially help more people obtain suitable accommodation.”
Under the Tenant’s Incentive Scheme a household willing to downsize could receive from the district council £1,000 plus £500 for each bedroom released. For example, a household moving from a four-bedroom house to a two-bedroom house, would receive £1,000 plus 2 x £500 – a total of £2,000.
This is a real opportunity for tenants living in large houses that they may be finding difficult to manage, to receive a cash incentive and help to move into a smaller, easier-to-run property. The scheme will release sought-after larger family homes back into the social housing pool, and help meet the requirement for much needed affordable accommodation.
Tenants of Signpost Housing Association and Tamar Housing Association who live in the South Hams and wish to downsize will also receive a payment from their landlord, matching the amount from South Hams District Council.
Sovereign Housing Association is offering up to £2,000 funding for one of their tenants to take advantage of this scheme during 2011/12.
Anybody wishing to find out more about the Tenant’s Incentive Scheme should contact Cassandra Harrison in the Affordable Housing Team on 01803 861359.
SHIRE Scheme
In partnership with South Devon Rural Housing Association, South Hams District Council are offering homes for rent at 80% of local market rents.
These are local family homes purchased off the open market especially for people who would not normally have access to social housing.
All properties are brought up to the association's lettings standard and are well maintained. South Devon Rural Housing Association do not insist on a deposit 'up front', they just ask that tenants pay one months advance rent.
These properties are available for long term rental. Please contact the Housing Advice team on 01803 861260, to register your interest or check you eligibility to rent under the SHIRE scheme.
Development News
See the pdf below for a short newsletter which provides information on current and forthcoming affordable housing schemes across the South Hams and West Devon.
