LEAFLET 4: A GUIDE TO HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

Introduction
What are Housing Associations?
How are Housing Associations run?
Who do Housing Associations house?
What kind of property do Housing Associations own?
How are Housing Associations funded?
What rent will be charged?
What if I die?
Can I purchase the property later on?
How is accommodation allocated?
List of Associations

Introduction

In the past it has been usual for people to think in terms of the local council providing housing for those in need of accommodation. Indeed the council's Waiting List was the place to register an application.

However over recent years the Government has encouraged local authorities to meet the housing needs of its area by enabling other organisations to provide accommodation rather than by continuing to build houses itself. The organisations are called Housing Associations, and this leaflet has been produced to explain exactly what they are and how they work.

There are in fact now no longer any Council properties within the Borough of Spelthorne, as they were all transferred in January 1996 to Spelthorne Housing Association which was specially set up for the purpose. The Council is using the money received from the sale to develop new housing in the Borough with its Housing Association partners.

By registering on the Spelthorne Housing Register, you will have access to the properties in the area which are owned by all the various Housing Associations. The brief descriptions of the Associations which follow tell you about their history and aims. If you require further details you may either contact them direct or alternatively the Housing Needs Section at the Council Offices (direct line telephone number 01784 446383).

What are Housing Associations?

Housing Associations are independent non profit making organisations, providing homes for people experiencing problems in finding accommodation. They come in many different shapes and sizes and often have property in more than one local authority area. Some Associations offer housing for rent; others provide a choice of properties to rent or buy.

How are Housing Associations run?

Housing Associations are formed and run by a voluntary Committee, and nearly all employ paid staff to carry out the work.

The Housing Corporation is responsible for monitoring the activities of all Housing Associations. The Housing Corporation Regional Office for this area is Leon House, High Street, Croydon CR9 1UH.

Who do Housing Associations house?

Housing Associations own and manage a whole range of accommodation, and they try and help those in greatest need. Many Associations provide a mixture of housing for single people, couples and families, whereas others may have been formed for a specific reason eg to provide a supportive environment for people who are learning to live independently.

What kind of property do Housing Associations own?

Anything from flats to family homes. Most property is self-contained, but some are designed to be shared. Although the majority of units produced are for rent, some are made available for purchase on a shared ownership basis.  Also see Leaflet 6: Housing Association Properties in Spelthorne.

How are Housing Associations funded?

Housing Associations receive public money in the form of grants and loans. These are paid by the Housing Corporation or the local authority. Housing Associations are also being encouraged by the Government to find some of the finance from private funding institutions. This will enable Housing Associations to provide more homes, but the rents will be higher.

What rent will be charged?

Housing Associations now have the responsibility for setting rents on all new lettings. However they are required to set and maintain these rents so that they are affordable by people with limited incomes. Tenants are also entitled to receive help through Housing Benefit.

An appeal can be made against the level of rent to the local Rent Assessment Panel, but it has the power to raise as well as lower rents.

What if I die?

If a tenant of a Housing Association property dies, the spouse (including common law spouse) is entitled to succeed to the tenancy.

Can I purchase the property later on?

Normally tenants of Housing Associations do not have the Right to Buy although there are some exceptions to this (in particular Spelthorne Housing Association tenants who had the Right to Buy before the transfer of their property from the Council). However grants are sometimes made available to assist tenants to buy a property on the open market.

How is accommodation allocated?

Whilst each Housing Association determines its own allocations policy, all are obliged to select tenants according to housing need and all are required to accept a proportion of nominations from local authorities. Some Associations also make use of specialist referral agencies. The plan is that eventually the Spelthorne Housing Register will be used by Housing Associations to allocate all vacancies that occur in the borough.


Associations
Airways Housing Society
London & Quadrant
MENCAP
Metropolitan Housing Trust
OWL Housing
Rowland Hill & Vaughan Trust
Spelthorne Housing Association (part of Apex Housing Group)
Surrey Community Development Trust
Thames Valley Housing
Threshold Housing Association
Vigne-Bremner Almshouses

AIRWAYS HOUSING SOCIETY

Brief History

The Society was formed in 1947 to provide homes for rent for those people moving into the Heathrow area to take up work at the Airport. Since then the Society has moved on, expanding its areas of operation and currently has over 4700 units of accommodation for rent to the west of London running along the M4 corridor to Newbury and Reading.

Registered with the Housing Corporation since the mid 1980's, Airways now provides rented accommodation in partnership with Local Authorities, Special Needs Groups and Business Expansion Scheme Companies to those people who are in housing need.

Aims

Airways clients are all those with a housing need and we aim to meet these needs through a variety of tenures: rented, low-cost home ownership, leasehold, temporary accommodation for the homeless, special needs homes for disabled and sheltered housing for the elderly.

By 'need' we mean:- - ability to afford only the lowest rental outlay

- meet special needs of those with particular medical social or economic difficulties;

- ability to afford a relatively high occupation cost whilst not able to enter full owner- occupation.

Types of accommodation

The Society has approximately 696 houses flats and maisonettes and 169 bedsits for rent and 103 mainly one bedroom flats for shared ownership in the Spelthorne area.

Who gets housed?

The Society lets property to nominees referred by the Borough of Spelthorne. Due to the small number of vacancies arising the Society no longer accepts direct applicants on to a waiting list for rented accommodation apart from elderly persons.

The Society will accept applications for shared ownership accommodation.

Airways Housing Society Ltd
1 Douglas Road
Stanwell
Staines
Middlesex TW19 7QS

Telephone No: 01784 247311

Website: www.airways-housing.co.uk

LONDON & QUADRANT HOUSING TRUST

Brief History

London & Quadrant Housing Trust originated in 1963. The first property it bought was in Greenwich. Today L & Q and its non-charitable associate, Tower Housing Association, own and manage over 26,000 properties spread throughout 60 Local Authority areas in London and the Home Counties.

Aims

To provide access to high quality housing for the maximum number of people in housing need and to deliver an efficient and caring housing service to our tenants.

Types of accommodation

The Trust has a variety of types of accommodation throughout the areas in which it works including sheltered housing and residential care homes. In Spelthorne it has 40 units - 9 one bedroom flats, 15 two bedroom flats, 5 two bedroom houses and 11 three bedroom houses.

Who gets housed?

When the Trust has a vacancy in one of its properties it will usually consider letting this home to people nominated by the Local Authority. A limited number of properties are also let to people referred to us by specialist housing agencies.

London & Quadrant Housing Trust
Doncastle House
Suites 1.5 and 1.6
Doncastle Road
Bracknell
Berks RG12 8PE

Telephone No: 01344 382200

Website: www.residentsonline.org.uk

MENCAP

Brief History

MENCAP, the national organisation, was founded in 1946. Now the Royal Society, it celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 1996. Spelthorne mencap, a separate autonomous charity, is one of about 500 local societies affiliated to the Royal Society. It celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 1996. MENCAP Homes Foundation is the part of MENCAP providing residential homes.

Aims

MENCAP is the leading organisation representing people with a learning disability and their families. It aims to:

1. campaign for their rights and needs
2. provide facilities appropriate to meet their needs, including residential provision.

Types of accommodation

Various types of accommodation are provided. The most common are staffed group homes, but supported accommodation appropriate to the needs of the individual is also provided.

In Spelthorne:
Homes Foundation provides a fully staffed group home for 6 residents and a home for two residents with staff support at times during the day.
pelthorne mencap provides 5 flats for people living independently with minimal support from a volunteer living in a sixth adjoining flat, and administrative support from the Society. mencap also attempts to ensure residents experience a suitable package of day care, including employment and education.

Who gets housed?

People with a learning disability. In Spelthorne those housed in Homes Foundation homes are now subject to selection by Surrey Social Services in order to obtain the necessary funding. By the criteria they apply new residents must be in a "high need" category.

Those housed in the Spelthorne mencap flats are subject to selection by the local Society, in consultation with Homes Foundation. They must be judged to be capable of managing their day-to-day affairs independently with ready access to advice and support and with help with longer term finance.

MENCAP
22 Manor Farm Avenue
Shepperton
Middlesex TW17 9AE

Telephone No: 01932 226152

METROPOLITAN HOUSING TRUST

Brief History

Metropolitan Housing Trust, established in 1963, is now one of the larger housing associations in the United Kingdom. It manages over 7,700 homes, in London, the South East of England and East Midlands.

Aims

Metropolitan Housing Trust's purpose is to provide good quality housing and support for its tenants, and to create opportunities for improving housing conditions by developing or improving homes at prices affordable to those in housing need.

Types of accommodation

Metropolitan Housing Trust own over 250 properties throughout Spelthorne including one bedroom flats and houses, two bedroom flats and houses, three bedroom maisonettes and houses, four bedroom houses, and disabled adapted bungalows.

Who gets housed?

Metropolitan Housing Trust does not keep a waiting list for its properties; instead we accept nominations from the Borough of Spelthorne for specific vacancies.

Metropolitan Housing Trust Limited
C.W.U. House
Crescent Lane
London SW4 9RN

Telephone No: 0171 501 2300

Website: http://www.mhtgroup.co.uk

OWL HOUSING

Brief History

Owl Housing Ltd was set up in 1990 to manage and develop support services and accommodation for people with learning difficulties in the West London and Spelthorne areas. It was set up initially to resettle people from long stay institutions, but now also provides a service to people living in the community.

Aims

To provide accommodation and support to enable people with learning difficulties to lead a valued life in the community, using 'Ordinary Life' principles. To work in partnership with other housing associations, Health and Local authorities, and community organisations.

Types of accommodation

Owl manages 10 small residential homes, 5 semi-independent living houses, and provides support through Spelthorne Supported Living Scheme to people living in their own homes. The residential homes in Spelthorne are owned by Airways Housing.

Who gets housed?

Owl has a range of services which cater for people who are more independent through to those who require high levels of physical care and have other complex needs. Referrals are made from the Local authority case managers, from the relevant Community team for people with learning difficulties or the Resettlement teams in the long stay hospitals. People are then assessed to determine their support needs, and whether the vacancy is appropriate.

Owl Housing Ltd
Grove House
551 London Road
Isleworth
Middlesex TW7 4DS

Telephone No: 0181 569 9131

THE ROWLAND HILL AND VAUGHAN TRUST

Brief History

The Rowland Hill and Vaughan Trust originated in Lambeth, South London in 1881. It was set up to give Sheltered Housing to the poor and needy women of the local area. The Almshouses were relocated to Ashford in 1895 to the site we are still at today. The Rowland Hill and Vaughan Trust is a Church run, self funded Charity.

Aims

To provide comfortable and affordable accommodation with 24 hour a day Warden cover, this allowing our residents to lead an independent life with the knowledge that there is someone close by in times of need.

Type of accommodation

Our accommodation comprises of 24 one bedroom self-contained flats for single or widowed ladies. All flats are fully central heated and come with a cooker and fridge. There is also a laundry room and Community Hall.

Who gets housed?

The Trust operates a waiting list which is open to ladies between the age of 60-80 at the time of applying. A Christian background is preferred but not compulsory. All applicants must be able to lead independent lives and be capable of caring for themselves.

Rowland Hill and Vaughan Trust
The Lodge
Rowland Hill Almshouses
Feltham Hill Road
Ashford
Middlesex TW15 2DS

Telephone No: 01784 253660

SPELTHORNE HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Brief History

Spelthorne Housing Association started out life as Thames Bridge Housing Association in 1991 and changed its name to Spelthorne Housing Association in preparation for taking the transfer of Spelthorne Borough Council's housing stock in January 1996. We are now the largest provider of Social Housing in the Borough, and we are also providing housing for neighbouring boroughs.

Aims

Spelthorne Housing Association's aim is to provide and manage good quality affordable homes for a wide variety of people. We achieve this with a caring, efficient, customer-orientated service. In this way, we ensure that local people in housing need enjoy a high quality of life that begins with a decent home and a pleasant environment. Working with local authorities and other organisations, we expect to provide another 500 homes for rent by the year 2001.

Types of accommodation

Spelthorne Housing Association has 3,500 rented properties throughout the Borough and these are made up of a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses and flats for families, together with flats and bungalows for single people and couples. Older people also have the opportunity to move to sheltered accommodation (for which separate brochures are available). We also have approximately 260 shared ownership homes and 2 leasehold schemes for older people.

Who gets housed?

The majority of vacancies in Spelthorne are offered to applicants on the Spelthorne Housing Register. If the Borough Council makes the choice the individual or family must be living in Spelthorne or have 15 years previous residence. For some vacancies the Association chooses who will be tenants, and this can include people who are working or have relatives in Spelthorne. Any vacancies in the two leasehold schemes for elderly people are advertised through local estate agents.

Spelthorne Housing Association
Spelthorne House
Thames Street
Staines
Middlesex TW18 4TA

Telephone No: 01784 466599

Website: www.apexhousinggroup.co.uk

SURREY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST

Brief History

SCDT was founded in the early seventies as a practical response to the need for supported accommodation for single vulnerable individuals throughout the county of Surrey.

Aims

Our aim is to assist individuals with special needs in achieving an independent life within the community, by providing them with a supportive environment in which they can develop their personal and general life skills.

Types of accommodation

The Trust has over 250 units throughout the county. These include shared houses, flats, hostels and some self-contained accommodation. Within Spelthorne we currently manage 51 units including both shared and self- contained properties.

Who gets housed?

Referrals to our projects are accepted as and when vacancies occur. The individuals whom we aim to assist include those with mental health problems, learning disabilities, ex-offenders, young people out of care and people with physical disabilities. Each resident is allocated an SCDT "keyworker" who will provide practical advice and support to enable them to work towards independent living in the future.

Surrey Community Development Trust
Windsor House
High Street
Esher
Surrey KT10 9RY

Local Telephone No's: 01784 240129/464242

THAMES VALLEY HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Brief History

Founded in 1966, Thames Valley Housing provides a variety of types of accommodation across the West and South London Boroughs and adjoining Counties, including Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Aims

To provide homes to meet the needs of people who are homeless or poorly housed, by developing good quality affordable housing. To work in partnership with Local Authorities and other agencies and supporting others who provide housing and associated services. To maintain and manage its accommodation to high standards and to develop resident participation in this process.

Types of accommodation

Thames Valley Housing manages 3,500 properties, 700 of which are shared ownership, 350 leasehold and the remainder for rent. Most of these are let to families, but a substantial number are for elderly people and for young single sharers. In Spelthorne there are 65 units - 3 one bed houses, 16 two bed houses and 20 three bed houses at Staines Road in Laleham and Cavendish Road in Sunbury, and 26 units for single people including a project with staff support managed by Surrey Community Development Trust.

Who gets housed?

The majority of lettings on new developments go to local authorities, most remaining vacancies are allocated to people referred to us by an approved list of referral agencies.

Thames Valley Housing Association
Premier House
52 London Road
Twickenham TW1 3RP

Telephone No: 0181 607 0607

Website: www.tvha.co.uk

THRESHOLD TENNANT TRUST

Brief History

Threshold Tennant Trust was formed in 1994 as a result of a merger between Threshold Housing Association in Wandsworth and Tennant Housing Trust based in Westminster. We currently have a housing stock of approximately 3000 in 17 local authorities including inner and outer London.

Aims

The Trust aims to provide quality homes, a responsive and efficient management service, and to work in partnership with Local Authorities and Special Needs agencies to meet local housing need.

Types of accommodation

The Trust owns new build estates and reimproved street properties with a mix of family and single persons accommodation. 60% of our homes are two bedroom and larger. In Spelthorne we have 35 homes, 23 are family size accommodation.

Who gets housed?

The Trust does not maintain a waiting list. Nominations are taken from Local Authorities and certain referral agencies. The Trust's home ownership subsidiary Key Homes does keep a waiting list of people interested in buying flats and houses under the shared ownership scheme.

Threshold Tennant Trust
467 Garratt Lane
Wandsworth
London SW18 4SN

Telephone No: 0181 874 1680

Website: http://www.threshold-housing.org.uk

VIGNE-BREMNER ALMSHOUSES

Brief History

Vigne-Bremner Almshouses were founded in 1891 by the Vicar of St Marys Sunbury. By 1964 the almshouses were in poor condition and were recommended to be demolished. A survey was initiated and it was found that the basic structure was sound. The dwellings were then modernised to give self-contained apartments. These almshouses are located in Nursery Road, Sunbury.

Aims

To provide self-contained low rental homes for the elderly who are active and able to look after themselves.

Type of accommodation

Self-contained good sized bed-sitting room, separate toilet and bathroom, set in well maintained gardens.

Who gets housed?

The Trustees operate its own housing list. When there is a vacancy residents are selected from the Sunbury area according to their needs. It is a requirement that they either have a relative or close friend in the area to be called upon in an emergency as there is no resident warden available.

Enquiries to: 01784 454179

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