Policy
Government policy is to develop alternative ways of purchasing
housing that make ownership possible for people who would
not normally be able to buy in the locality. In the 2006 Budget
additional funding for low cost home ownership to be provided
through housing associations and the Housing Corporation was
announced along with three new "HomeBuy" models. One emphasis
has been on housing for key workers, but these models also
encompass for example affordable housing in rural areas and
options for disabled people.
There is also a long standing interest in using equity in
later life to fund care or support. Market Renewal Pathfinder
projects draw on current low cost home ownership ideas to
help achieve movement to alternative, better housing.
The Valuing People White paper said more disabled
people should be able to live in their own homes, with support
if necessary; and the choices should include ownership.
Modern extra care developments are increasingly based on
a mix of tenures in order to meet demand from a wider range
of people as well as to achieve economic viability of developments.
Problems
Home ownership models are often perceived to be complex.
Funding is difficult; getting mortgages for disabled people
on benefits is a challenge. There are seen to be unacceptable
risks for vulnerable people in some low cost ownership models.
Equity release products have a chequered history and are frequently
seen as risky and/or poor value for money.
Knowledge of the possibilities is limited particularly amongst
social care staff who in practice are well placed to inform
older, disabled or other people about options and possibilities.
H & S P Solutions
The Partnership has an unrivalled track record in creating
and developing with clients innovative, low-cost home ownership
models, training and supporting staff in this specialist area.
In 1996 Nigel King wrote Ownership Options (NHF)
which outlined six ways people with a learning disability
could be home owners. These ideas were subsequently taken
forward by a small number of housing associations who developed
shared ownership for people with learning disabilities first
using Social Housing Grant and later through entirely unsubsidised
models. This book and the ideas it contained have helped shape
most of the subsequent low cost ownership models for disabled
and older people.
A parallel book Mental Health and Home Ownership
(N. King, NHF, 1997) developed low cost home ownership for
people with mental health problems. This too has lead to shared
equity schemes on a smaller scale.
More recently, the Partnership has developed an array of
ownership models for extra care housing and is currently working
on an "Assisted Homebuy" for a consortium of organisations
in Wales with support from the Welsh Assembly.
Housing and Support Partnership has particular expertise
in:
- Income Support Mortgage Interest Payments system
- Discretionary Trusts
- Mortgage finance
- Financial modelling
- Leases
- Mixed tenure
- Equity Release
Examples
The Partnership has worked with leading, specialist housing
association pioneering shared ownership for disabled people
such as Advance Housing and Support Ltd, John Groom and Habinteg.
Housing and Support Partnership has developed leases and
models for extra care housing for several clients. Housing
and Support Partnership co-wrote the Department of Health
Technical Guide to Mixed Tenure in Extra Care.
Recently Housing and Support Partnership has helped two Charitable
care providers to pilot innovative home ownership schemes
for disabled people without subsidy, and develop in house
expertise so subsequent applicants can be dealt with with
no outside help. |
