Strategic housing service
The Council in its housing role is not just a landlord. It has to act strategically across all housing tenures (private rented, social rented and owner-occupied) to ensure that the housing in the district meets people's needs and is of a good quality.
Formulation and implementation of the Housing Strategy
Strategic housing is about making sure that the Council responds to national, regional and local housing priorities. It achieves this by developing a housing strategy and working with partners to deliver actions.
The work carried out by the Housing service in its strategic role helps to meet the Council's vision to create a more positive image of Mansfield District to develop people, businesses and investment in the area, and to improve confidence, pride and dignity so that everyone can enjoy a good quality of life in their neighbourhoods.
In particular, it is the Council's aim to ensure that all people have access to good quality homes at a price they can afford in a place where they want to live.
The Council has developed in partnership with Newark & Sherwood District Council and Ashfield District Council a joint housing strategy. To read more about this use the link on the right hand side to take you to the joint housing strategy page.
Research
The strategic housing service also undertakes housing related research to inform the strategy formulation process. Details of current and previous research projects can be found on the housing research link on the right hand side of this page.
Policy development and service improvement
The strategic housing service is also responsible for the interpretation of central, regional and sub-regional policies and ensuring they are implemented at a local level. The service also works with other services within the Housing Department to develop policies and processes and procedures aimed at ensuring that their services are customer focused, reflect 'best practice' and delivered in an efficient and cost effective way.
Various customer satisfaction surveys are also administered by the Strategic Housing service on behalf of other sections within the Department. These are analysed and any recommendations for improvement are then fed into the specific service areas for implementation. Details of all consultation exercises undertaken by the section can be accessed by clicking on the housing consultation link on the right hand side of this page.
Delivery of affordable housing
The service works very closely with Registered Providers (previously known as Housing Associations or Registered Social Landlords) to increase the amount of affordable housing in the district. The Council has adopted an Interim Planning Guidance note for Affordable Housing to provide clarity to developers when they are developing housing. Clicking on the Interim Planning Guidance link at the side of the page will provide more information on this guidance.
Private sector housing advice and enforcement
The Strategic Housing service also has a team that works to ensure that private sector homes (both privately rented and owner-occupied) are of good quality and meets the relevant legal standards. The team has a range of enforcement powers available to improve conditions in private sector properties and also to deal with harassment and unlawful eviction. The service works with private tenants and landlords to ensure that they are aware of their rights and responsibilities by providing advice on matters regarding tenancy agreements, seeking possession, deposit protection and disrepair.
Regeneration and area renewal
We recognise that there are areas in the district where there are big and sometimes complex housing issues to tackle. In some areas there are large numbers of older housing in disrepair that require high levels of investment to bring them up to a decent standard. Other areas may have housing which is unpopular that no-one wants to live in either because of the type of housing it is, the condition of the housing or the layout of the estate. More information about regeneration can be found by using the link on the right hand side of the page.
Empty Properties
The Strategic Housing Service deals with empty domestic privately owned properties that have been unoccupied for periods longer than 6 consecutive calendar months (identified from Council Tax records). The team has a range of enforcement powers available to improve the appearance of the property or aid its return to occupied status; along with working closely with MARS (Mansfield and Associates Rental Solutions) to find tenants for property owners.
The service works with private owners and landlords to ensure that they are aware of their rights and responsibilities by providing advice on matters regarding renovation, contractors, vacant properties and disrepair issues. More information about Empty Properties can be found by using the link on the right hand side of the page.