HCA Empty Homes Grants Programme – Summary

The HCA has now opened up bidding for their part of the DCLG’s £100m Empty Homes Programme which will be channelled via registered housing associations.

Bidding For The HCA Empty Homes Programme In Partnership With A Registered Housing Association:
Organisations that aren’t eligible to receive funding from the HCA themselves, can access this money by working in partnership with housing associations that are eligible. If you want to go down this route, then don’t delay in approaching a housing association with whom you think you could work, if haven’t already done so.  (Alternatively you can wait and bid directly through The Community Grants Programme – see item below*)

How & When To Bid For The HCA Empty Homes Programme: Bidding started on 21st November and runs until 23rd January 2012.

Key Features of The HCA Programme

The HCA Bidding Guidance document sets out everything and can be viewed here but it will be down to the housing association to submit the actual bid. However, the following key features should be borne in mind:

• Partnerships with Housing Associations: The HCA positively welcomes bids submitted by housing associations in partnership with community
  led/self-help housing organisations. Remind any housing association with whom you’re working of this.  (Paras 33, 39 &42)
• Eligible Properties: Properties in the ownership of Social Housing Landlords (i.e. local authority housing departments & registered housing associations are excluded) but most other properties are eligible  (Para 9)
• Commercial Property: Residential and commercial properties are eligible (Para 8)
• Period Empty: Properties must have been empty for “a significant period of time” and more than six months. (Para 10)
• Lease or Purchase: Funding is available for both leasing and purchasing properties, although the limited
  level of grants will make purchase more problematic (Para 19).
• Length of Leases: The minimum length for leases will be  5 years, although the HCA is hoping for an average of 10 years (Para 22)
• Grant Levels: Grant levels will be based on a “value for money” assessment set out in para 35. It is expected that grants for property leased for 5 years
  would “range from  £6,000 in the North to £13,000 in London “ and 10 years range from £9,000 to £22,000  (Para 36) These are fairly low and some form of topping up funding may well be needed.
• Community Benefit: The HCA will take into account “community benefit”, arising from schemes, in deciding what to fund (Para 50)
• Training & Employment: The HCA are keen to see bids offering training and employment opportunities for local communities (Para 25)
• Standards: Leased properties should be refurbished to the Decent homes Standard. (Paras 23 & 24)
• Rents: Rents are not fixed, but The HCA will take rent levels into account in  accessing schemes for funding. (Para 49)
• Local Authority Support: Bids need to have local authority support (Para 38)
• Nominations: Agreement needs to be reached with local authorities over nominations (Para 41)
• Delivery On Time: Bids with a high degree of certainty of delivery on time will be prioritised  (Para 45)
• Completion: All monies will have to spent by 31st March 2015 (Para 46)
• London: Bids in London will be jointly assessed by the HCA ( London) and the GLA, which takes over responsibility for housing investment in London from 1.4.2012 (Para 30)

Remember, if you work up a scheme with a housing association, then they will be required to retain a legal interest in each property (ie the lease)  and you will be their managing agent.