Property Pool Plus

The Property Pool Plus Service and partner landlords are continuing to review our service provision and processes as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses and associated Government Guidance is updated. The information below provides an update on the impact of the virus at this time on key elements of the service:

New applications

We are continuing to accept and process new applications submitted via the PPP website. During this time our usual face to face customer access points are closed and therefore you will not be able to make an application through this route. If you need to make an application to the scheme and cannot do this on-line you should get in touch with the PPP contact for your Local Authority area to discuss options available. Contact details are available via our Contact Us page. For information, in the coming weeks we will be launching a new version of our website which is compatible with mobile phones, and this will enable customers to complete a new registration and update existing registrations via their smart phone.

Updates to existing applications

If you have had a change in circumstances which you need to report, you can do this by logging into your account on-line using your login reference and memorable date; you will then be able to make any required changes to your application and submit them for assessment. If you are unable to do this on line or if you have forgotten your login details you should get in touch with the PPP contact for your Local Authority area using the contact details given on the Contact Us page. For information, in the coming weeks we will be updating our website so that you will be able to retrieve your login reference via the website using the email address you have used in your registration. You can already retrieve your memorable date via the website. Please assist us to reply to all contacts as quickly as possible by only contacting us via one method i.e. please do not contact by phone and email about the same query as this slows our response rates, and we are trying to maintain a high level of service for all of our customers. Also, please ensure that any contacts you make via phone or email are sent to the organisation managing your application as this will assist with a faster response, a different organisation will not be able to assist you.

Arrangements for Direct Offers of Accommodation for Homeless Cases

Due to the impact of COVID-19 the Local Authority areas involved in Property Pool Plus have seen an unprecedented number of households presenting to them for homelessness assistance.  Housing Options Teams have been working with individual households to resolve their housing need in line with Government Guidance relating to COVID-19.  During the initial lockdown period this meant that only essential property allocations could be progressed, which included allocations to people who had no settled accommodation, and to those in temporary accommodation.  These property allocations were facilitated via a direct matching process administered jointly between Property Pool Plus, Housing Options Teams and partner Housing Associations.  Government guidance has since been relaxed to allow more property allocations to proceed, though still within strict  health and safety guidelines including social distancing.  However, due to continued high levels of demand for accommodation for homeless households it has been agreed that Local Authorities operating within PPP will continue to prioritise homeless households in the housing allocation process where required, and this will continue via a direct matching process as described above.  At this time, this approach will continue in the Local Authority areas of Halton, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral.  It is not anticipated that these arrangements  will continue in the longer term and they will be under regular review.  In the mean time any properties which are not required for homeless households will be allocated within usual Property Pool Plus processes.  It should also be noted that other housing solutions are being sought for homeless households in addition to Social Housing such as accommodation in the private rented sector.         

Weekly Property Advertising Cycle

We are continuing to run a weekly advertising cycle, however you will no doubt have noticed that the number of properties being advertised remain at a significantly low level. This is a direct impact of the pandemic on the supply of properties due to Government Guidance and restrictions on moving home, as well as social distancing measures and associated impacts, resulting in:

• Lower numbers of available properties, as existing tenants are not moving out, and in some cases those who had planned to move have withdrawn their notice and decided to remain
• Some properties being directly allocated to homeless households rather than being advertised, as described above
• Limitations on landlord’s ability to inspect and complete repairs on those properties that are empty
• Continuing difficulty in obtaining some maintenance and building supplies
• Difficulty in completing viewings, tenancy sign ups and removals in line with social distancing requirements
• A need to focus on essential activity such as rehousing those in temporary accommodation in line with government guidance

Government Guidance has recently been updated to allow for people to move home in line with public health and social distancing guidelines. This may result in the number of properties becoming available through Property Pool Plus gradually start to increase in the coming months; however it is not expected that there will be a quick return to the numbers of properties coming through prior to the pandemic. 

Property Offers and Viewings

Our partner landlords are continuing to review and amend their processes in line with social distancing requirements which will continue to impact on property turnaround times and arrangements for property viewings and signups.  If you are matched to a property the individual landlords will provide you with information on approximate timescales when you will be able to occupy the property, therefore please direct any questions you have regarding the property to the individual landlords or visit the landlords websites for potential updates.  Please visit the Registered Provider page of our website for links to partner landlord's own websites.  PPP will be unable to advise you on specific information relating to individual properties.

We appreciate that the limited availability of accommodation is frustrating and disappointing however, this is outside our control and we can assure you that we are working towards resuming a normal level of service as quickly as possible.