Dozens of Blackpool households helped to avoid homelessness
Tenants have been given housing, health and money advice
Dozens of households in Blackpool have been helped to avoid becoming homeless in the first 18 months of a drive to improve housing in parts of the town.
Tenants including elderly people, vulnerable adults and young families have been given housing, health and money advice.
Blackpool Council said more than one in 10 of the households helped have avoided becoming homeless as a direct result.
The support has been delivered through the Inner Area Selective Licensing programme, which covers eight wards.
They are Bloomfield, Brunswick, Claremont, Talbot, Tyldesley, Warbreck, Waterloo and Victoria.
Support for tenants
The council said its housing support team has helped 242 households so far.
It said needs were identified through home visits, inspections of rented homes, or tenants referring themselves.
According to the council, the support has included:
137 households struggling with the cost of living, including help to register for Universal Credit and food vouchers for supermarkets
103 people needing housing advice, including help with rent arrears, disputes with landlords, and information about the new Renters' Rights Act
67 households receiving money advice or debt support
24 households needing health-related support, including referrals to mental health services and help for older tenants to get GP appointments
19 households referred for employment support, work programmes or volunteering opportunities
The council said 233 of the cases have already been resolved.
Council teams have helped tenants to manage rent arrears and resolve disputes with landlords or neighbours that had risked eviction notices.
Cases the council has helped with
A man with Alzheimer's who was living in a damp and mouldy flat was supported to agree a programme of essential repairs with his landlord.
The council said he and his landlord had struggled to communicate after his diagnosis.
It said he was eligible to move into sheltered accommodation but wanted to stay in his home.
A man with mental health problems and a history of gambling addiction was supported to avoid being evicted for rent arrears.
The council said the team gave him budgeting tools, liaised with his landlord about the arrears and gave him food vouchers to help in the first few months.
He said:
"They've helped me to get back on track and keep a roof over my head - it is very much appreciated."
A woman who was being financially exploited was supported to regain her independence.
The council said a family member had made themselves appointee on her benefit accounts and taken the money.
It said her Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit were suspended as a result.
She was referred to Adult Social Care and supported to reclaim her payments.
A father who had been threatened with eviction was supported to avoid becoming homeless.
The council said he had been served with eviction notices for anti-social behaviour and unpaid rent.
He has now been supported to move to a new, more secure flat.
He said:
"It gave me someone to talk to during a really difficult time. It helped me to feel less alone."
What they said
Cllr Dave Flanagan, Blackpool Council's cabinet member for housing, said:
"This Selective Licensing scheme is just one of many ways we're seeking to improving housing and people's lives in Blackpool. Good housing is intrinsically linked to better health, employment and educational outcomes, giving people foundations they can flourish from. As these figures show, the scheme has allowed us to offer support to hundreds of people in need, many of whom didn't know they were eligible, or didn't feel able to ask, for help from services.
"The team have made a huge difference to the lives on tenants living across the Inner Area. They've made urgent referrals to colleagues in Adult Social Care, stopped people from becoming homeless, or just offered a friendly face and reassured someone that they're not alone."
What is selective licensing?
The council said selective licensing aims to improve standards in an area by addressing poor management by some private landlords and the poor conditions of their rented homes.
Any house, flat or room rented out privately in the designated area needs a licence, subject to some exemptions.
Landlords must follow licence conditions covering property management, tenancy management, fire safety and anti-social behaviour.
The standard licence fee for a single home is £772 for the five-year period of the programme.
The council said fees go back into running the programme, including property inspections and housing support workers, and that it generates no profit for the council.
It is Blackpool's fourth licensing programme for rented homes.
Landlords with homes in the eight wards can apply for a licence at www.blackpool.gov.uk/selectivelicensing .