Bolton Community Homes Tackling Housing Fraud Welcome Guy Cresswell Director of Housing Services Great Places Housing Group and Chair of Bolton Community.

Bolton Community Homes

Tackling Housing FraudWelcome

Guy CresswellDirector of Housing Services Great Places Housing Group and Chair of Bolton Community Homes Partnership

What is Bolton Community Homes (BCH)?

• Bolton’s independent strategic housing regeneration company, founded by Bolton Council in 1992.

• Membership encompasses Registered Social Landlords, Community & Strategic housing.

What does BCH do?• Manage & maintain over 25,000 homes

• Develop new Housing Provision • All housing related services to tenants, those seeking

accommodation and in housing need through temporary, supported and permanent accommodation provision.

• Lead on a wide range of regeneration initiatives

• Support practice and management of housing in to create sustainable communities and neighbourhoods that work

The strength of the BCH partnership strategy and practice were key elements of Bolton Council’s successful recognition as a Beacon Council for Tackling Homelessness in 2003-04 and Homes for the Future in 2009-10.

• All partner – all stock Choice Based Lettings scheme and common allocation policy since 2002.

Core framework supporting consistency of practice whilst allowing organisational diversity.

Tackling Housing Fraud

Key strands to the current & future development of social housing fraud response this funding has enabled Bolton to : (i)maintain, co-ordinate & develop expertise, (ii) increase capacity and (iii) encourage & embed reporting.

• Bolton at Home secured one year funding 2010• Bolton Council supported development of approach 11 to

13• CLG Tackling Housing Fraud funding 2013-15

Key resources:

• Cross partnership housing fraud prevention officer

• Capacity within ‘right to buy’ team and

• Specialist benefit fraud capacity

Presentations & Workshops

Key themes:Benefits & economies of the partnership and sharing practice 

Added value of close working between landlords / partner agencies in particular consistency in reporting / practice and messages to the public

Tackling Housing Fraud