duration

Duration
1 day

duration

Location
In-house

duration

Availability
Good

Suitable for:       A What does this mean?

With growing pressure on social housing and homelessness services, social lettings agencies offer an alternative way to increase access to affordable accommodation. This practical workshop explores how to establish a sustainable, socially responsible lettings service, from developing the business case to managing operations and growth.

For local authorities, housing associations and other housing providers, establishing a social lettings agency can create opportunities to increase housing options, strengthen homelessness prevention and improve access to the private rented sector. However, developing a successful service requires careful planning, a viable business model and a clear understanding of the operational and financial challenges involved.

This workshop takes delegates through the key considerations, helping them evaluate opportunities, develop a robust business case and understand what is needed to establish and sustain an effective social lettings service.

  • Read more

    What will delegates learn?

    By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

    • Understand the role social lettings agencies can play in addressing housing need and supporting wider organisational objectives
    • Explore different operating models and identify approaches suitable for their organisation
    • Understand the legal, regulatory and financial considerations involved in establishing a social lettings agency
    • Identify the resources, staffing and systems needed to operate an effective service
    • Develop a compelling business case for senior management and board approval
    • Understand how to attract and build relationships with private landlords
    • Recognise the key factors involved in developing a financially sustainable social lettings service.

    This course will cover:

    • The role of social lettings agencies: Understanding how social and ethical lettings models can support homelessness prevention, housing access and wider social objectives
    • Developing a clear purpose: Establishing how a social lettings agency will contribute to organisational priorities and local housing needs
    • Exploring different business models: Understanding the range of operating arrangements and identifying the most appropriate structure
    • Building the business case: Considering financial viability, resourcing, risks, benefits and how to secure organisational approval
    • Legal and regulatory responsibilities: Understanding the compliance requirements associated with operating a residential lettings service
    • Financial planning and resources: Exploring budgets, staffing, operating costs and income generation
    • Understanding the local market: Assessing demand, identifying opportunities and recognising the needs of private landlords
    • Attracting private landlords: Developing an effective proposition and building relationships that encourage landlords to participate
    • Operational considerations: Establishing appropriate processes, systems and service standards for managing properties and tenancies
    • Developing a sustainable service: Understanding how to maintain financial viability, support organisational objectives and plan for future growth.

    Who should attend?

    This workshop is designed for organisations considering establishing or expanding a social or ethical lettings service, including:

    • Local authority housing and homelessness teams
    • Housing association managers and senior leaders
    • Housing strategy and development professionals
    • Private sector housing and leasing teams
    • Homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation managers
    • Charity and third-sector housing organisations
    • Business development and service transformation teams.

    It is particularly valuable for professionals responsible for developing new housing initiatives, assessing business opportunities or creating sustainable approaches to increasing access to accommodation.

  • Our trainer

    Carrie Kus is an experienced housing, lettings and property training specialist with a strong background across the charity, private rented, social housing and property investment sectors.

    Carrie spent seven years as a Senior Trainer at Shelter, the homelessness charity, where she managed the training needs of both new and existing helpline housing advisers. Her work supported advisers in delivering high-quality housing guidance to people facing homelessness and housing insecurity.

    In 2010, Carrie founded Clarity Estates, a lettings agency operating in Sheffield and Chesterfield. She successfully led the agency for over a decade before its sale in 2022 to a local housing charity. Alongside this, Carrie has been a property investor for many years, bringing practical, hands-on experience of the rental market.

    Carrie has also held several non-executive and leadership roles. She served for five years as a Non-Executive Director of the Residential Landlords Association before its merger with the National Landlords Association to form the NRLA. She also spent three years as a Non-Executive Director for the trading arm of Nomad, a Sheffield charity providing housing for young people, and was Training Director for Property Training Solutions, a subsidiary of Allied Surveyors created to deliver specialist training for property surveyors and professionals.

    Carrie brings together deep knowledge of the housing, lettings, property investment and social housing sectors, alongside practical experience and a long-standing commitment to improving standards across housing and lettings.

     

We can bring this course to you.
If you have five or more staff interested our in-house training offers great value for money.

Complete the form below and we'll be in touch.