The Private Sector group manages programmes to improve the homes of vulnerable residents in private housing, up to the Decent Homes standard.  The programmes are funded by the GLA's Targeted Funding Stream. The group's focus has been on the delivery of 4 programmes: Coldbusters, Safer Homes, Handyperson Plus, and Loan Fund. Overall take up of these programmes has been very positive, the loan fund (equity release) scheme being one of the few successful such schemes in the country.

The membership of the group is:

• Dianne Blazer - LB Bexley
• Martin Parsons - LB Bromley
• Ros Gill - LB Greenwich
• Tony Mottram - LB Lewisham
• Sheryl Charles - LB Southwark

Since July 2005 a sub group for HMO licensing has also been in place.

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Boroughs run a variety of schemes designed to improve homes in the private sector.  Details of the borough schemes can be found below:

• Bromley Home Improvement Agency
• Greenwich 'Help for the Private Sector'
• Greenwich Handyperson Service
• Lewisham Housing Improvement Grants
• Lewisham Handyperson Service

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A decent homes checklist has been drafted for use by handypersons from our Safer Homes schemes

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We have summarised the programmes we are running:

Overview

Loan Fund

Coldbusters

Safer Homes (handyperson scheme)

All 3 schemes are targetted at households who are  vulnerable. A fact sheet explains how vulnerable households are defined.

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In May 2007 we commissioned (via LB Greenwich) a feasibility study into the use of private finance for equity release for vulnerable households. Click here to see the project report.

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Please refer to the links below to access Government publications particularly those relating to implementation of the Housing Act 2004. (Please note that Empty Dwellings Management Orders are dealt with on our Empty Homes page).

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A Landlord Day was held April 24th 2007at Lewisham Civic Suite. This was based on a programme. It included presentations on rent deposit protection, good management for Buy to Let, use of private sector in tackling homelessness, London Landlord accreditation scheme and Empty Dwelling Management Orders.

   

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Over 350 landlords attended the SE London Landlords Day on March 17th 2006 . This focused on the implementation of new legislation (particularly HMO licensing, the Housing Health & Safety Rating System and Empty Dwellings Management Orders).  To coincide with this event we  produced a SE London Guide to HMO Licensing.

There were presentations on HMO licensing, Health & Safety Rating System and Housing Act 2004 overview.