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Adur District
Council has been allocated £559,066 from the LAHF which is a
government  fund specifically for
the provision of rented housing for refugees. The allocation is to
provide 3 homes (of which one must have four bedrooms and the
others at least two) by the funding deadline of 31st March
2024.  Given the tight timescale, the acquisition or
improvement of existing homes was considered to be the only way to
deliver these. 
 
Options were
considered with the preference being for new property which could
be quickly and easily acquired, however a review of the market
showed that new homes within the budget and timescale were not
available.
 
The
following  properties have been
identified and are considered suitable. Full building surveys have
been carried out and legal reports produced.  Approval to
purchase them is requested:
 
30 Bushby Close, Lancing (
4 bed house) for the sum of £375,000 
27 Beachcroft, Lancing ( 2
bed flat) for the sum of £225,000
37 Beachcroft, Lancing ( 2
bed flat)  for the sum of £230,000
 
Total purchase cost: £830,000
 

Reasons for the decision

The Local Authority
Housing Fund (LAHF) is a £500m capital grant fund, launched
in December 2022, to support local authorities in England to
provide housing for those displaced by war and conflict, in
particular in response to the Afghan and Ukraine humanitarian
schemes which offered a safe and legal entry route to those fleeing
conflict
 
Refugees were
identified as one of five priority groups in Adur District Council’s (draft) Housing Needs
Assessment (September 2023). 
 
Adur’s Housing Team will work with West Sussex County
colleagues to allocate the properties to those who are eligible,
homeless or at risk of homelessness and who currently live in
unsuitable temporary arrangements. WSCC also has funding to meet
costs associated with move-on and set up of a home as well as
assist with rent and rent in advance if needed and there would be
no additional financial burden to the council. 
 
A report setting out
the funding allocation and the budget for delivery of the three
homes under the LAHF programme was approved by the Adur Joint Strategic Sub-Committee (JSSC) on 7th
December 2023. Authority was delegated to the Assistant Director
for Housing and Homelessness Prevention to approve the purchase of
the properties identified. 
 
The 2 leasehold
flats at Beachcroft are in Adur owned blocks so will be incorporated easily
into Adur’s stock with the
Council as freeholder. The house at 30 Bushby Close is freehold. 
 
The total
acquisition cost is well below the figure indicated in the JSCC
report of £1,075,000 however as the properties will need some
repairs, it is envisaged that the entire approved budget will be
required.

Alternative options considered

The alternative of
improving existing housing was considered however it was considered
preferable to increase the Council’s overall
stockholding.  In addition, it will be easier to comply with
the required timetable for the LAHF funding which needs to be
committed before the end of March 2024. 
 
The option to do
nothing and hand back the funding allocation was considered however
this would have meant a failure to produce much needed homes, and
it was demonstrated that the amount of grant available allowed
these to be delivered with no additional burden on the
Council’s budget.