URL: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=6284

Decision Maker: Assistant Director: Housing

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The Assistant Director of Housing Services has approved the purchase of the property listed in the exempt appendix 1 with an estimated acquisition cost of £135,000 Successive governments have recognised that Local Authorities such as Wirral Borough Council which have welcomed Ukrainian and Afghan arrivals, continue to face challenges in securing settled accommodation for these households, which unless alleviated will further impact on existing housing pressures.   In December 2022, the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) was launched, providing Local Authorities successful in securing funding, 40% of the total costs to secure properties for both this purpose and to support councils in increasing their temporary accommodation for homelessness pressures. Wirral Council has been allocated a total of £648,140.89 in the fourth round of Local Authority Housing Funding (LAHF4), announced in November 2025 for the rapid acquisition of six properties. The objectives of the LAHF 4 programme are to:   a) Reduce local housing pressures and use of expensive and unsuitable accommodation, by providing better quality temporary accommodation to those owed homelessness duties by local authorities.   b) Provide sustainable settled housing for some families on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) so that they can build new lives in the UK, find employment and integrate into communities.   c) Support local housing markets by assisting the delivery of new housing stock or new developments to grow overall housing supply   The LAHF4 allocation offered provides 40% of the total costs of five property acquisitions and 50% for one larger property acquisition. The required match funding of £721,000 is being provided through the existing National Resettlement Pathway Programme revenue funding along with Asylum Dispersal Grant already received by Wirral Council.   Of the six properties three must be for Afghan resettlement and three for use as temporary accommodation.   Officers from Strategic Housing Services and the Asset Management Team are continuing to work collectively to identify suitable properties to purchase utilising this funding.   Costs associated with compliance checks and any essential repairs required to the properties will also be met from this funding.   A first property has now been identified (details in appendix 1) to purchase under LAHF 4, with the agreed purchase price of £135,000 (excluding associated costs which will also be met from this funding).   The Total number of properties acquired under the overall LAHF programme to date is 24 with a further 4 progressing through the conveyancing process.   Property acquisition details are set out in the attached exempt appendix 1.  Appendix 1 is exempt from publication pursuant to paragraph 3 of the part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act 1972 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) because it contains or refers to information relating to the financial and business affairs of the Council and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Council could have given this grant funding to Registered Providers to acquire additional housing stock in the borough, but the preferred option is to acquire the properties for Council Ownership so that an income can be generated in the future from rental income and reduce the burden on housing subsidy loss for use of bed and breakfast.   The Council already has an existing management agreement in place with a local Registered Provider of Affordable housing in relation to its small social housing stock base and these homes can be added to this agreement without the need to procure a further partner. The decision has been taken under Part 3 Section C - Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers as the decision is not reserved to a Committee or Sub-Committee and the Assistant Director is satisfied that paragraphs 2(a) to 2(c) apply.   Background Papers   https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-support-for-afghans-in-uk-hotels-to-find-settled-housing   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-housing-fund-round-4/local-authority-housing-fund-round-4-prospectus-and-guidance

Date of Decision: May 5, 2026