Purpose

To approve the freehold
acquisition of a three-bed house in Burntwood for the sale price of
£260,000, with a further £6,000 set aside for
associated legal costs and repair/maintenance works.

Decision

The Leader approves the freehold acquisition
of a three-bed house in Burntwood for the sale price of
£260,000, with a further £6,000 set aside for
associated legal costs and repair/maintenance works.
 
The Leader notes that this purchase will see
the total number of properties purchased with the £2m to one,
leaving approximately seven further purchases to be made.
 
The Leader notes that the council will work
with Homes England ongoing to determine whether any external
funding is available to contribute to the purchase and delivery of
this accommodation unit. Should funding be available, any
underspend of capital monies to fund this property will be
maintained in the capital budget for further purchases.

Reasons for the decision

There is a limited supply of temporary
accommodation and social rented housing units in the district. As a
result, oftentimes families and individuals are placed in bed and
breakfast accommodation with limited facilities outside of the
bedroom, making it unsuitable for long-term placements. 
 
Last year, the council spent approximately
£191,000 on temporary accommodation ( the exact amount of
this may differ ) Delivering approximately eight new units of
temporary accommodation will help to provide more suitable homes to
local people facing housing crisis, ensure that rent paid is
reinvested into quality temporary accommodation and reduce the
council’s overall spend 
 
The team’s work will be focused on
purchasing and refurbishing existing properties, which the council
has identified is the swiftest and most efficient way to deliver
much-needed homes in the locations where people need them most.
This will ensure a swift turnaround of properties and maximise our
ability to provide immediate assistance to those in need.
 
The council’s wholly owned trading
company, Lichfield West Midlands Traded Services (LWMTS), will also
provide property management support and the tenants will be
supported by our housing team.
 
The council will be purchasing properties in
key locations, including Lichfield City, Burntwood, Fazeley and
Armitage with Handsacre, to provide
residents with easy access to shops, transport, and local
services
 
When choosing properties, the team focuses on
properties that are near to:

·      
Public transport.

·      
Supermarkets offering good value products.

·      
Schools.

·      
Health centres.

·      
Community facilities
 
Research with individuals who need to move
into temporary accommodation has         
indicated they need easy access to all of the above. An equalities
impact assessment has been carried out on our approach to property
selection and purchase.

Alternative options considered

There were no other alternative options
given.