Empty Homes Community Grants ProgrammeNorth East Briefing Event

2 July 2013

EHCGP – Five Lamps

• £1.28million• 75 properties (all lease and repair)• Darlington and County Durham• Interface with Enterprise (supply chain opportunities for Five Lamps

business starts) and Employability activities• Work placements and tasters• Commitment to explore energy saving initiatives• Establishment of trading company (Conduit)• Creation of social enterprise letting agency/tenancy management service• Additional finance above DCLG grant funding from Five Lamps’ CDFI service

Overview: Darlington

• Identified long list of properties with owner interest in scheme• Some from previous enforcement action• Initially 10 surveyed• Offers out to 7• Management agreements to 3• 1 signed up (2 units) and charges being placed• Expecting start on site mid July• Surveys now started on up to 30 further properties

Overview: Durham

• 9 properties identified in Chapel Street, Evenwood• 3 now signed up (charges to place) with 2 others expected to follow• Discussions ongoing with other 4• Extensive list of properties identified by Durham County Council staff now

set for surveys during July 2013• Some clustering in similar communities to Evenwood

Case Study: Chapel Street• The properties are in two terraces adjacent to refurbished social housing stock and

have become a local eyesore• Obvious potential for Energy Scheme – External Wall Insulation plus a Biomass

Heating System• Well-attended public meeting in January 2013• Initial energy partner went into administration in April 2013• All 17 properties agreed for Energy Scheme and £200k secured by our partners for

energy works• Energy Saving Company (ESCO) to be established with Five Lamps having 25% stake• Expected start on site in late July/early August• Strong partnership with NorthStar Housing Group, including tenancy management

and integration with their community grants programme, including creating opportunities for NEET young people

Issues to address - Identifying properties: successes/problems/recommended techniques•Effective relationship with local authority – empty homes and enforcement teams•Leaflets with Council Tax letters

The choice between leasing & acquisition – where you have one•All properties lease and repair•Considering purchase and repair model

Experiences in raising additional funding/loans•We want to build on our track record of accessing further funding •Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme funding energy efficiency project•Five Lamps CDFI loan funds•Community pots

Issues to address - Legal, technical or planning obstacles and solutions•Substantial time taken in resolving VAT and associated management agreement issues (now resolved) •Added complexity of the energy scheme, including the legals around the ESCO and the Energy Supply Agreements

Experiences in working with trainees/apprentices•Model still to be developed

The impact of the project on the community/beneficiaries•Strong community support in Evenwood per the public meeting and from the interface with the local social landlord

The impact of the project on your organisation•Key project with Five Lamps’ Board of Directors committed to long-term•New ‘Director of Financial Inclusion & Housing’ appointed