Improving how people live in the south west
Amy and James Smethurst were keen to live in the area they grew up in, but the property prices were making this difficult. So when a house came on the market that they could finally afford, they were delighted. But the downside was the state of the house. It had been condemned and needed a lot of work to bring it up to a basic standard of habitation. They decided it was worth it, but soon had to deal with the realities of living in a house with no central heating or insulation. Amy, who works as a teacher, explains,
“There were bad problems with damp and mould, and in the winter it was really really cold. It was -3 in our bedroom.”
Seeking help
The couple were advised that because of their low income they wouldn’t qualify for a bank loan to repair the house. They approached the local council for help, but were told they didn’t qualify for support.
Amy continues, “A few years later when we had our son we really knew we had to do something about it. That’s when we contacted Teignbridge again.”
This time Teignbridge District Council was able to help. The Council was working with their local CDFI to help people in this kind of situation.
Steve Bamford, a Housing Practitioner with Teignbridge District Council Housing Services, explains,
“In line with our housing strategy, the Council assists vulnerable people to repair and improve homes that fall below a standard, to make sure they are reasonable and safe to live in. We operate a loans first policy, but do use grants to top up loans in some circumstances.”
The Smethursts received £20,000 to improve their home. £14,000 of this was a grant which will have to be repaid if the couple sell the house, and £6,000 was in the form of a loan. The funding enabled the couple to install central heating and insulation, replace part of the roof and fit double glazing.
Working in partnership
The Council works in partnership with its local CDFI, Wessex Resolutions, to deliver the loans. Steve recalls, “The Council did consider managing the loans itself, but we decided a better option was to work with Wessex. They had a good reputation and proven track record. And it works very well.”
Andrew Wallace is Managing Director of Wessex Resolutions, which specialises in providing affordable home finance loans. It works with 20 councils in the south west region, in a similar way to Teignbridge District Council. Andrew explains,
“We support clients in each of the local authority areas, in line with the specific policies of the councils. We visit customers to explain our services and discuss their needs. Our focus is very much on helping people and shaping the right solution for them.”
Although the existing council partnerships are strong, Andrew finds that engaging new local authorities can be difficult,
“The financial environment that all local authorities face means it is an increasing struggle for them to provide capital. Responding to the changing needs of local authorities is part of the challenge. We have to be adaptable and change as political priorities change.”
Improving health and well-being
Andrew comments, “The most rewarding part of our work is the social benefits we provide. We move people on from where they were to a new place in their life, where they’re happier. Our customers tend to live in very poor conditions, with damp, poor electrics and poor bathing facilities – things that we can help with. Things we all take for granted. If suddenly they have proper heating, the change can be extraordinary. It can improve their health, self-confidence and well-being.
The home improvements that the Smethursts carried out have had a massive impact on their lives. Amy says,
“It’s the first winter in 8 years where we haven’t had ice in side, and no mould. We used to have mushrooms growing in the house. The heating bills have gone right down too. We had an electric heater in the lounge before, and it cost us a fortune. My son had a lot of bronchial and chest problems before the work. He’s now much better, and my asthma is a lot better as well.”