Temporary accommodation procurement
Increasing need
It is anticipated there will be a continued and growing need for TA, as indicated by increased demand over recent years. The annual average number of placements in 2019/20 increased by 86% from the average in 2018/19, and over the four years since 2017/18 there has been an increase of 310%. This is reflective of an increase in the number of homeless applications. Other influences such as the wider housing market and affordable housing supply will affect the need for TA, and predicting or forecasting need is difficult as it’s informed and shaped by multiple socio and economic factors.
While levels may be fluctuating partly due to the COVID-19 response, annual increases indicate it is reasonable to anticipate a continued need at higher levels, reflective of an increase in homelessness applications. Based on monthly averages over the last 18 months2 there is a need for 84 good quality TA units.
Rising homelessness levels across the South East and the increased demand for TA provision has led to an increasingly competitive TA market. Exploring all options to procure and secure good quality and reasonably priced TA is therefore a priority for the Council.
TMBC will seek to secure accommodation within borough and in areas close to the borough wherever it’s reasonably practicable. In borough supply is currently limited and out of borough accommodation options will therefore need to be used. For out of Borough provision, local amenities and factors such as parking and public transport will be taken into consideration.
Procurement options
TMBC will use the following options to secure sufficient TA provision, in a mix of sizes and types, to meet anticipated need:
- Private provision
- nightly paid provision of self-contained properties and those with shared facilities
- block booking arrangements (short term and longer term). A procurement project is being carried out by Officers to agree a set amount of good quality accommodation with providers to increase certainty of availability and cost.
- Council owned provision
- option to purchase additional properties on the open market for use as TA
- explore opportunities on a case by case basis subject to funding options.
- Working with Registered Provider partners to access existing social housing stock for TA use.
- Private sector leasing or agreements to exclusive use of properties (including Service Level Agreements).
Nightly paid accommodation with private providers meets over half of the current TA demand. A procurement exercise for nightly paid private providers is intended to secure a set amount of units for use by TMBC at an agreed price.
Existing housing stock is currently used as TA in partnership with Clarion Housing (a Registered Provider). Officers will continue to work with Registered Providers to ensure best use of social housing stock including using it for TA provision where appropriate.
TMBC currently own and manage six flats for TA. The purchase of additional properties completed in April 2020, with a conversion project planned for 2020-21 to provide an additional 12 self-contained units.
Standards and requirements
All TA units need to comply with minimum property standards and, where appropriate, management standards, in line with statutory legislative requirements. There may also be local adopted property standards that need to be met. Accommodation and compliance will be checked by TMBC’s Accommodation Officers including carrying out property inspections and checking relevant records.