Symposium 1 - The Letting Agency Model: Identifying and Building On Success (Thu 8th Nov, 1 - 5pm)

The Issue

There are now a number of models of "intermediary" initiatives which aim to facilitate moves from homelessness into a successful tenancy in the PRS. There have been some notable successes, but one of the themes which emerged at the Future Search was the need for those involved to share and spread ideas on what has worked and what hasn't, and what might be needed to enable successes to be built on and replicated elsewhere.

To a large extent the content of this symposium was determined by the experiences and priorities of those taking part. However, based on the issues which arose during the Future Search, we suggested it include:-

• a brief outline of the different approaches, with benefits, drawbacks and critical success factors for each
• how projects have dealt with issues of recruiting and supporting landlords
• good practice in recruiting and supporting potential tenants
• relationships with local authority Housing Options Teams; do local authorities' own PRS access initiatives help or hinder?
• ways of speeding up the matching of landlords and prospective tenants
• likely developments in the operating environment (e.g. changes in commissioning of support services, Local Housing Allowances etc) and their potential impact
• Management charges versus leasing arrangements – many Local Authorities will lease properties, so how do neighbouring authorities and voluntary sector led schemes compete with this if they cannot bear the risk associated with leasing? Can we move towards some London-wide consistency of approach to create greater equitability?

Desired outcomes

• Sharing of good practice
• Publicising learning points and models for wider audiences
• Improved networking for practitioners
• Identification of issues to be worked on by the symposium participants, the London Housing Foundation or both
• Possible briefing paper for London Councils and CLG about a London-wide framework/protocols for engaging with landlords.

• Practitioners
• People with responsibility for local authority and sub-regional homelessness strategies
• ‘High Sreet' lettings agencies
• Representatives from landlords and/or landlord groups.