Decision details

Building on good practice from Tameside, an agreement was reached with MHCLG that £140,000 of Winter Pressures funding for 2025/26 would be used to pilot a scheme whereby funding is made available to local social landlords, in order to bring void properties back into use, rather than seek to dispose of them. This report seeks authorisation to enact this scheme.

RESOLVED - That:
1. That the £140,000 received from MHCLG Winter Pressures funding is agreed to be used to support Housing Associations to bring voids back into use, rather than dispose of them.

2. That, working with Legal colleagues, a memorandum of understanding (or grant agreement if appropriate) between the Council and interested social housing providers is put in place, based on that used in Tameside, to specify terms around the use of this funding.

3. That sign-off on specific properties to be brought back into use through this scheme is delegated to the Director of Communities.

Option 1 (preferred option) – agree the use of this funding as set out, subject to a memorandum of understanding, and with delegation on agreement of specific properties given to the Director of Communities.

Option 2 – do not agree to this proposal. This option is not recommended, as it would mean that opportunities would be missed to prevent social housing being lost to Oldham, would not allow us to place from TA into these properties (losing an opportunity to reduce cost to the Council, and improve provision), and would require renegotiation with MHCLG on the use of the grant funding received.

Option 2

NA