Decision details

This report appraises the Council’s use of the flat at 8a Wollaton Avenue and, in view of the need for temporary accommodation, recommends that the Portfolio Holder approves the transfer of 8a Wollaton Avenue to the Housing Needs Department.

THAT:
(a)8a Wollaton Avenue is transferred to the Housing Needs Department to be used for temporary accommodation.

The reasons for these recommendations are as follows:
(a)8a Wollaton Avenue would be more effectively used by the Housing Needs department than the Property department.
(b)The property requires no works to make it fit for purpose.
(c)Use of 8a Wollaton Avenue by Housing Needs will mean that the Council will have to spend less per annum in terms of temporary accommodation budget.
(d)It would not be advisable to consider sale of the property until such a time as the future of the Sherwood E Act site is known

An alternative option would be to retain the accommodation within the Property department and let it out privately. In order to do avoid private tenants potentially becoming eligible to claim the Right to Buy the Council would have to let the property to a business which could then let it on to private individuals. This would mean that the Council would obtain a lower than market rent for the property. It is likely that the costs associated with finding temporary accommodation outside of the Council’s ownership would outweigh any income from private tenants.
Another option would be to sell the property. As it is not certain whether the property will be linked to any future redevelopment of the Sherwood E Act site and because there is demand for homeless accommodation it would seem preferable to transfer the property to Housing Needs.