Start Preparing For Voluntary Right To Buy

Here are five tips on how to get your business ready for Voluntary Right to Buy.

1. Be clear where VRTB sits in your business

2. Map your processes - You’ll need to understand your processes and identify gaps. You can then put in place the systems, teams and people you’ll need to deliver VRTB.

3. Bring the business together - VRTB is very different than Preserved Right To Buy, it touches people across the business, including asset management, housing, customer contact teams and so on.

4. Getting the product to market - The customer experience is straightforward – like they’d expect from a bank or utility.

5. Managing expectations - Residents will be disappointed if they’re ineligible either because of their tenancy or their home is exempt.

Read more on the NHF website.

Seven Ways Social Landlords Can Prepare For Universal Credit

Universal credit will see housing benefit paid direct to tenants each month (as part of a larger amount of benefit payments), instead of being paid to their landlords, as is currently the case. Sanctuary Housing has taken part in one of the government’s pilot schemes to test the impact of the policy. Sanctuary have shared their experience about how to manage the changeover.

·         Know your data

·         Identify a universal credit expert

·         Work closely with the DWP

·         Anticipate tenants in need

·         Don’t overlook service charges

·         Make use of APAs

·         Keep customers informed

Read full details of these tips on the Guardian website.

Five Things to Offset the Impact of Universal Credit

Housing professionals are working proactively to counteract the changes brought about by universal credit before migration moves tenants onto the benefit. The CIH have identified five top tips based on these experiences.

1.       Speak to possible universal credit claimants at the right time

2.       Help tenants to build up savings or get rent accounts into credit

3.       Identify who will win and lose from a move onto universal credit

4.       Run a direct payment pilot or programme with your local council

5.       Upgrade IT systems to improve efficiency and knowledge

Read more on the CIH website.

Eight Top Tips for Dealing with Universal Credit

The introduction of universal credit brings many changes for social landlords and tenants. The experiences of housing professionals who have already worked with universal credit can help others to prepare. Here are eight top tips based on these experiences.

·         Decide carefully who will manage universal credit cases

·         Be proactive about collecting the rent

·         Provide support for tenants

·         Build a good relationship with your local jobcentres

·         Consider a partnership with local debt advice services

·         Keep up to speed with universal credit developments and changes

·         Remember that DWP systems are still in development

·         Work out what reports you need

Read more on the CIH website.

Five Things to Consider before Renting Homes out at Full Market Rates

There is an understandable anxiety about the idea of social landlords diversifying into offering homes for rent at market levels but even as they find new ways to raise funds, their hearts remain true to their social purpose.  The Chartered Institute of Housing spoke with five housing providers that are developing homes for rent at market rates to gather advice on the most important factors housing providers should consider if they are considering developing homes for this new target group. Here are their top five tips…

1.       Know why you are doing it

2.       Know the market

3.       Know that it isn't the same as social rent

4.       Know the risks and how to mitigate them

5.       Know that saying no may be the right decision

Read more on the Guardian website.