Maidstone Borough Council 9 Eviction crisis had a happy ending


Security guard Davinson Nmadueke burst into tears when he received an eviction notice for him and his 14-year-old son Ugo.


Mr Nmadueke had been a good tenant in his privately rented flat in Maidstone but the landlord decided he wanted the flat back and successfully applied to the court for an eviction order. That’s when he turned to the council for help.


We were able to arrange temporary accommodation and guide Mr Nmadueke through the process of applying for social housing. Now father and son are happily living in an MHS Homes flat.


“I cried when the letter from the court came,” said Mr Nmadueke. “I called the council and Holly helped me with what I needed to do. She made me very relaxed. If it hadn’t been for her I don’t know what I would have done. I couldn’t afford to rent privately and Holly helped me. The council saved my life. I am really happy and Ugo is doing much better at school.”


 Explore opportunities for funding investment with a range of partners including the Local Enterprise Partnership, HCA and institutional investors.


Work with planning, the local and Gypsy Traveller and travelling communities to identify potential housing sites.


 Deliver a quality housing scheme on the Brunswick Street car park.


 Support Parish Councils in delivering local needs housing.


 Promote the development of good quality homes that are energy efficient, meet space standards and embrace the concept of Lifetime Homes.


Priority 2: Ensure that existing housing in the Maidstone Borough is safe, desirable and promotes good health and well-being.


We plan to:


A. Raise housing quality and standards across all tenures and improve the condition of existing homes.


B. Improve health outcomes for residents by reducing health inequality.


C. Promote ways for residents to tackle fuel poverty, energy efficiency advice and managing domestic bills.


D.Bring empty homes back into use.


We will:  Improve accommodation within the private rental sector by engaging with


landlords.


 Address the needs of the ageing population, in particular the 85+ age group, including support needs such as adapting properties, provision of care in the home, providing specialist accommodation and care/nursing homes.


 Review the Disabled Facilities Grant to help disabled residents remain in their home.


 Initiate projects such as the Roseholme Healthy Homes Pilot, which will improve the health and well-being of residents.


Work with NHS Health Trainers to support residents to achieve healthier lifestyle choices with issues such as healthy eating, quitting smoking, exercise and emotional well-being.


Work with owners of long term empty properties to bring them back in to use.


 Deliver the affordable warmth strategy.


Priority 3: Prevent homelessness, secure provision of appropriate accommodation for homeless households and supporting vulnerable people


We plan to:


A. Prevent and relieve homelessness by offering residents timely, expert advice.


B. Increase the availability of accommodation for homeless households.


Are you threatened with being homeless?


Our housing and support teams provide essential help to enable people to achieve increased independence and health and well-being outcomes at times of difficulty, and can prevent difficulties becoming a crisis.


If you’re homeless or at risk of being homeless call 01622 602440 or come into the Maidstone Gateway in King Street. It’s important that you seek advice, and you can see one of our housing advisors to discuss your housing options.


Our website www.maidstone.gov.uk gives advice if you are:  Being evicted by your landlord  Being harassed by your landlord  Having problems paying your mortgage


The website also gives guidance on renting privately, social housing, shared ownership and help to buy.


C. Support independent living and reduce risk of repeat homelessness for vulnerable residents by offering a range of housing options, advice.


We will:


 Deliver our Homelessness Strategy Action Plan


 Expand on the success of Aylesbury House by investing in additional temporary accommodation.


 Support private sector landlords and tenants to maintain their tenancies by offering pre-tenancy training.


 Provide information and advice that will enable people to improve their own housing and health circumstances, prevent homelessness and make best use of resources.


 Support residents to manage welfare reform changes.


 Ensure homeless households have access to volunteering, training and employment opportunities.


 Secure shared housing for single homeless people aged under-35.


Work with supported housing providers to understand and address the potential impact of the Housing Benefit cap on supported accommodation tenants.


 Expand the HomeFinder bond scheme.


New empty homes initiative


In the last two year, we have brought 175 empty homes back into use. During the coming year we will be expanding our work with the launch of a new initiative to help families who need housing by effectively matching them with elderly people whose homes are empty because they need to go into care or nursing homes. It means that people who go into care will have a regular income to help meet their care costs, which would otherwise be offset against the capital value of their home. This preserves the value of the home for whoever they bequeath it to and, in the meantime, provides a home for families which need one.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56