Housing Strategy Action Plan 2025

1. Ensure the council complies with Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and meets the four consumer standards that underpin the legislation.

We will:

• continue engagement with regulator in relation to compliance against the consumer standards and support further action, if required
• collate evidence to demonstrate compliance
• deliver improvement plans on schedule for each of the five consumer standards
• deliver an Assurance Framework to provide oversight and scrutiny of progress

2. Provide a repairs and maintenance service for council owned housing.

We will:

• end backlog of routine repairs by December 2025
• remodel the existing contractor framework by June 2026
• deliver action plans aligned to key priority actions in the Housing Health & Safety Action Plan 2025 to 2026 for electrics by December 2026

3. Invest in building and fire safety to meet duties under the Building Safety Act and Fire Safety (England) Regulations and ensure we are compliant with Health and Safety.

We will:

• deliver action plans aligned to key priority actions in the Housing Health & Safety Action Plan 2025 to 2026 for gas, electric, water, asbestos, lifts, and fire risk by March 2026

4. Meet requirements of Building Safety Regulator.

We will:

• ensure all major refurbishment works comply with Fire Safety and Building Safety Registration national requirements
• be registered with the Building Safety Regulator as part of the project

5. Deliver planned and major works capital programmes.

We will:

• implement year one of the five-year programme for planned and major works
• update the Asset Management Strategy to be agreed by Cabinet

6. Improve the condition of private rented sector accommodation.

We will:

• agree new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy
• implement requirements of Renters Rights Act when enacted
• roll out of selective licensing scheme to further wards in 2025 to 2026
• undertake fire remediation actions -through identification of medium rise, 11 to 18m, private sector blocks with potentially unsafe cladding and link through to the government's Cladding Safety Scheme by December 2025

7. Work with partners to provide advice and support to residents on home energy efficiency.

We will:

• work alongside partners across the Fuel Poverty and Affordable Warmth steering group to progress the actions in the revised Fuel Poverty and Affordable Warmth Plan
• be part of communication and engagement networks alongside targeted marketing to promote support with advice including:
  • the Warm Homes local grant
  • Great British Insulation Scheme
  • ECO funding
• work with the partnership of local authorities across Sussex to build on the success of the Solar Together Sussex scheme to develop and launch a new collective purchasing scheme for low carbon technologies for private householders

8. Improve the energy performance of council homes.

We will:

• use the £826,000 Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund award for a programme to retrofit 100 of our least efficient homes over 3 years, 2025 to 2028, 2025 to 2026 will see 25 to 30 homes retrofitted to achieve a minimum of EPC Band C
• continue to install on council houses and bungalows under the HRA Solar PV programme, a further 200 to 250 system will be installed up to April 2026
• explore options to support a business case for further solar PV installations alongside battery storage on communal roofs to directly benefit residents
• pilot the whole house retrofit of 5 properties to inform a future domestic retrofit programme
• carry out decarbonisation studies of seniors housing schemes to support our transition away from gas boilers and provide residents with reliable and affordable low carbon heating

9. Progress workstreams on future options for BHCC Large Panel System blocks.

We will:

• carry out the options appraisal and recommendations (Cabinet July 2025)
• establish resident engagement groups for each block
• appoint a wider external design team to progress projects
• seek cabinet approval for delivery vehicles

1. Set new housing development targets through the City Plan, shape development and design of land use and the city's built environment, including delivery of infrastructure to meet the city's needs.

We will:

• review current Affordable Housing Brief
• produce a new Affordable Housing Planning Advice Note

2. Reduce the number of private sector long-term empty homes in the city.

We will:

• bring 100 long term empty homes, 1 years plus, back into use by March 2026
• reach a minimum 5% reduction in long term empty homes measured via New Homes Bonus calculation in October 2025
• commence a pilot of offering grants to private sector landlords who wish to lease to the council to improve energy efficiency of the properties

3. Increase supply of affordable homes - rented and low cost ownership.

We will:

• have 110 additional council homes delivered by the council- new build, acquisitions and conversions by March 2026
• deliver year 2 of the Local Authority Housing Fund - phase 3 programme
• have 308 affordable homes due to be delivered in 2025 to 2026 by Registered Providers and Build to Rent developers
• support planning policy to enable the provision of non-council affordable housing supply in the city
• review existing council assets to establish the best opportunities for developing more affordable homes
• start new development work at Moulsecoomb Hub site by September 2025
• start new development work for the Homes for Brighton & Hove Sackville Road Scheme by March 2026 - pending successful planning application, future sites have been secured through Homes for Brighton & Hove to achieve 1,000 new homes over the lifetime of the programme
• continue the New Build Delivery Programme in 2025 to 2026, ongoing works for 85 sites, we have completed works at 43 sites
• maximise use of sites for modular and other innovative forms of housing, 1 site feasibility was completed by Prisoners Build Homes in 2025 to 2026
• maintain awareness of partnerships bringing funding sources to maximise delivery of new homes

4. Create new social housing lets by reducing under occupancy.

We will:

• develop communication strategy to promote Tenant Incentive Scheme
• work with Registered Providers to develop a wider under occupancy approach

5. Review options for setting up a Housing Company.

We will:

• complete options appraisal & business case for setting up a Housing Company.
• seek Cabinet approval for the preferred option.
• start preparatory work for establishing company.

6. Reduce the number of short-term lets and second homes in the city.

We will:

• prepare for potential changes in legislation in relation to short term lets
• take part in research project, Department of Culture, Media and Support, on new registration scheme in summer 2025
• review impact of 100% council tax charge on 2nd home ownership in March 2026

1. Implement the Homelessness Transformation Strategy - improving the customer journey for people facing homelessness and maximising opportunities to prevent homelessness.

We will:

• improve first point of contact for people experiencing homelessness or who have a housing need                                 
• implement new housing needs IT system, including customer facing aspects

2. Reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation

We will:

• deliver actions within the Temporary Accommodation Reduction Action Plan
• provide 10% of homes through 'buy backs' for temporary accommodation use
• meet milestones of Local Authority Housing Fund grant by completing acquisitions to achieve target of 20 homes by March 2026

3. Improve the quality of temporary accommodation.

We will:

• implement the Dynamic Purchase System (DPS) for temporary accommodation to increase the supply and quality of accommodation
• consider the role of modular build on small sites, commencing a pilot project by March 2026
• review options for temporary accommodation delivery as part of the council's supply programmes

4. Implement the Housing Allocations Policy

We will:

• embed the Housing Allocations Policy to maximise opportunities to prevent homelessness

5. Review and update the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

We will:

• undertake an 8-week consultation on draft strategy summer and autumn 2025
• develop and agree new strategy by December 2025
• work with our partners in the Third Sector, other public sector bodies, people with lived experience and the wider community

6. Commission Single Homeless Services - Street Outreach, Housing First and Private Rented Access & Sustainment Services.

We will:

• consult with stakeholders and users on current provision - May 2025
• complete procurement of services and award contracts
• monitor new contract to ensure delivery
• review performance and address any issues                                          

7. Develop joined up approaches for those most at risk of harm or where there is greater impact if they become homeless.

We will:

• deliver female only temporary accommodation - 16 homes, by September 2025
• review of options for pan Sussex reciprocal arrangements for survivors of domestic abuse

8. Support and resettle refugees and asylum seekers.

We will:

• deliver our commitments as a City of Sanctuary
• support the Refugee Resettlement Programmes including identifying suitable properties in the private rented sector
• acquire more properties through the Local Authority Housing Fund in 2025 to 2026
• submit an expression of interest to participate in the government’s pilot aimed at bringing asylum accommodation back under local authority control

1. Ensure that people can live in safe and well-maintained neighbourhoods and feel safe in their homes.

We will:

• agree Hate Incidents Policy for council tenants and leaseholders - Overview & Scrutiny Committee September 2025
• recommence estate inspections on council owned estates
• deliver Estate Development Budget improvements

2. Support older people to be independent and resilient.

We will:

• align aim with our Health & Care Partnership Shared Delivery Plan and the objective to embed an integrated health & care frailty model through our new Integrated Community Teams (ICT)
• continue working with ICT to deliver health surgery partnerships at Senior Housing schemes
• roll out a local ‘Fall Detectors’ tool and ‘Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)’ tool to reduce falls and improve health and wellbeing of Seniors Housing residents

3. Support people with additional support needs to be independent and resilient.

We will:

• deliver the elements of the learning disability strategy housing action plan, autism action plan and mental health action plan - where resources have been committed by partners)
• seek further resources where these are not available, through the city’s Health & Care partnership
• deliver the agreed aims of the Multiple Compound Needs Programme to improve outcomes for people who are homeless with multiple and compounding health and social care needs

4. Meet requirements of Supported Housing (Regulatory) Oversight Act 2023.

We will:

• identify resources to develop & agree supported housing strategy
• prepare for anticipated introduction of mandatory licensing for supported housing (Summer 2026)
• maximise HB subsidy return against supported housing tenancies across the city

5. Enable people to live independently in their homes by providing housing adaptations.

We will:

• provide and deliver adaptations for those in need; £4.7m of investment in 2025 to 2026, £1.8m for council owned homes and £2.9m for privately owned homes through Disabled Facilities Grant
• integrate occupational therapy service for adult social care and adaptations to provide one point of contact for customers requiring these services

6. Meet requirements of Awaab's Law.

We will:

• raise tenants’ awareness of damp and mould and the support available
• implement new protocol and put in place resources to meet requirements of Awaab's Law in council owned properties in October 2025
• information campaign for private sector landlords of their current responsibilities and take enforcement action where necessary

1. Ensure that tenants’ views are at the heart of decision-making about the delivery of our landlord services.

We will:

• deliver Year 1 of the Transforming Tenant Engagement Action Plan 2025 to 2027
• produce Tenant Engagement Strategy
• deliver on Great Landlord Action Plan
• consult with residents in LPS Blocks on future options and next steps

2. Brighton & Hove City Council to become a great landlord.

We will:

• deliver 'Great Landlord - Continuous Improvement Plan' by Autumn 2025, and evidence compliance with Social Housing Regulator Consumer Standards by delivering associated action plans
• carry out further co-production workshops to continuously develop the improvement plan

3. Optimise the local benefits and social value of our inhouse repairs and maintenance service.

We will:

• maintain our apprentice promise to engage 20 apprentices at any one time
• work with local schools
• attract more diverse applicants for future apprenticeships opportunities in the repairs and maintenance service

4. Provide housing information and advice appropriate to the needs of our diverse communities.

We will:

• review the customer journey and information on housing services webpages as part of council wide website refresh

5. Ensure that our housing workforce has the relevant skills and competencies to deliver an effective service to all residents.

We will:

• continue to roll out training and support to develop trauma informed practice in our front-line staff and reflective practice
• offer training for staff to raise awareness of Awaab's Law
• enrol relevant staff onto professional qualifications, as per the Social Housing Regulation Act requirements

6. Work with other social landlords to share intelligence, pool resources and work on shared priorities.

We will:

• establish Brighton Hove Social Landlord Network Housing Summit, July 2025

7. Work with NHS and other partners to improve services and support for people with multiple, compound needs.

We will:

• develop and deliver Brighton & Hove 'Improving Lives Together' place based plans through integrated community teams and multiple compounds needs transformation programme

8. Deliver on Stonewall Houseproud pledge.

We will:

• ensure that LGBTQ+ council residents have input at a strategic level
• increase LGBTQ+ visibility and publicise commitment to Stonewall Houseproud Pledge
• provide LGBTQ+ inclusion training to staff