Networking Event

Barnham Broom – 9th October

The Norfolk Strategic Housing Partnership hosted a county wide Private Rented Sector (PRS) networking event on Wednesday 9th October 224 at Barnham Broom Hotel, Honingham Road Norwich.

The event was very well attended with around 60 private sector landlords, private rented sector investors and agents, representatives for each district local authority in Norfolk and representatives from some of the advice agencies and other agencies who currently work with private landlords in Norfolk, to provide much needed housing for those who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness in Norfolk.

The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government recently released its official homelessness statistics for the year 2023 to 2024. In Norfolk 6295 households were assessed by the 7 district authorities in accordance with their statutory homelessness duties and of these households 1,035 approached the local authorities as a result of their Assured Shorthand Tenancy ending (in the Private rented sector). Where the approach to the local authority resulted in the authority either having a duty to prevent or relieve homelessness and accommodation was secured, 542 households were accommodated in the private rented sector.

At the networking event delegates received an update from Shelter (the national campaign for homeless people) on the proposed Renters Rights Bill as the proposed legislation is currently working its way through parliament. Delegates heard how the proposed legislation could change the way the PRS operates and is regulated.

Delegates also heard from landlord representatives; including the Eastern Landlords Association, providing an understanding of the challenges Norfolk private landlords face and some insights into how they could work alongside local authorities and agencies to provide accommodation for those in need.

The event also included examples of good practice in partnership and collaborative working between local authorities and private landlords; with speakers from Norwich City Council Let NCC, the Sustainable Housing Partnership Service, South Norfolk and Broadland District homelessness prevention and rough sleeping coordinators and representatives from The Housing Network and the Norfolk Accommodation for Ex offenders (who are working with PRS landlords to secure accommodation for offenders and those being discharged from prison).

The day was chaired by the co chairs of the Norfolk Strategic Housing Partnership and the chair of the Eastern Landlords Association.

To view the presentations from the day please click here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f-c6v_r7A6X2zNrD1j0TeREGQlQPxrGj?usp=drive_link

For those who took part in the event please click here to provide feedback and any further thoughts you may have on how the PRS and local authorities and agencies can work together to provide housing in Norfolk: https://forms.office.com/e/YbaqnRFQFV?embed=true