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Cost of living support

Advice and support to help manage the rising cost of living.

Community led housing fund area report and models

Read the reports for the community housing fund in this area and find out about different housing models.

 

Area community housing fund report

Reports for the community housing fund in the Strategic Housing Market Area of Uttlesford District Council, Epping Forest District Council, East Herts District Council, and Harlow Council.

  Community Led Housing Fund - Executive Summary (PDF) [740KB]

Community Led Housing Fund - Final Report (PDF) [3MB]

A 'How To' Guide for Community Led Housing for Local Authorities and Strategic Site Promoters (PDF) [960KB]
 

Community housing models

These models are set up by ordinary people who have an ambition to meet the housing needs of their Parish. At the heart of these models are the principles of affordability, sustainability and democracy.

Community led housing has two main benefits. Firstly, they can deliver housing that is in keeping with household budgets both for rent or home ownership, through the use of innovative financial models and covenants, housing costs can be protected for future residents. The second benefit is that Cooperative and Community Land Trusts can prevent homes being sold on the open market and are 'Right to Buy' exempt.

 

Community land trusts

This model separates the value of land from the assets built on top. It can be delivered by ordinary people who live or work in a specific area. The main principles of this model are democratic decision-making, stewardship of the land and affordability.

More information on community land trusts

 


Development trusts

Development Trusts are flexible organisations that own and manage land and assets in a partnership with other organisations and companies such as public and private bodies as well as companies from the voluntary sector. Development Trusts can be not-for-profit focusing on democratic decision-making and affordability.

More information on development trusts

 


Co-operative and mutual housing societies

Co-operative housing societies are not-for-profit organisations that seek to meet the needs of the residents. The main principles of this model is democratic decision-making and affordability.

More information on co-operative and mutual housing societies

 


Cohousing

The cohousing model is an intentional community bringing together like minded people or specific social groups like women or ex-service personnel. The main principles of this model is democratic decision-making, affordability and sustainability.

More information on cohousing

 


Community Self-build Agency

The main role of this agency is to bring individual prospective self-builders together to form a community group to jointly meet their housing need for rented homes. The main principles behind this model are affordability and sustainability.

More information on the Community Self-build Agency

 


Self-help housing

Self-help housing schemes seek to renovate empty properties through the labour of volunteers and young people at risk of exclusion or homelessness. The main principles behind this model are affordability and sustainability.

More information self-help housing

 


Self-build

Self-build and custom house building is a flexible model that can enable average households to meet their own housing needs. This model can deliver housing at a price cheaper than market homes for individuals or groups.

More information on self-build

 


Tenant management organisations

This model supports tenant management companies who have taken over the management of their local housing stock. The main principles behind this model are democratic decision-making and affordability.

More information on tenant management organisations

 


Community gateway associations

A Community Gateway Association is a tenant led organisation that owns and manages housing stock transferred via local authority stock transfer. It is a not-for-profit organisation that is managed and influenced by the tenants who live in the homes. The central principle of this model is democracy.

More information on community gateway associations