ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Social Housing

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chairman's Report
Our Values
Grant Making
Grants A - L
Grants M - Y
Achievements
Mental Health Grants
Monitoring/Evaluation
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Property
Future Plans
Benefit & Risks
Financial Highlights
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& Balance Sheet

Achievements

Social Housing and Property

In their strategic development plan for 2007-2010 Trustees committed themselves to “maintaining and managing our residential properties, with a personal service to tenants.” The RPLC has a total of 89 tenanted units that are offered with subsidised rents.  The total contribution made by the RPLC in rent support during the year amounted to nearly £855,000 or about £9,600 per household.  

Another 3 bed semi-detached property in Ham was purchased and was tenanted by a couple with two young children.  With an average price of properties in the borough in excess of £450,000 our social housing provides a vital support to families who would otherwise be unable to live or work within the RPLC benefit area.

Maintenance and improvements were carried out on 57 units.  Caplan Court , which consists of 8 one-bed units had new kitchens and bathrooms installed.  A new loft extension was built in one of our Manor Grove properties and many of the Cambrian Road properties had external decoration and roof repairs.

Given the limited number of RPLC properties we do not have much movement among tenants in any given year. The majority of our families in RPLC properties have Assured Shorthold Tenancies and remain as tenants for many years.  In the last 12 months we successfully nominated five individuals to London & Quadrant properties and housed two families in RPLC properties. The RPLC has nomination rights to 35% of the housing units on the Queens Road Estate.

Currently all our waiting lists are closed as we have sufficient numbers of applicants for bedsits, one, two and three bed properties. Notification of any change to the status of the waiting lists, together with application procedures, will be posted on our website or be obtainable from the RPLC office.

The RPLC has two investment properties, Dickson House and Vestry House.  Dickson House, a dedicated block of 8 studios for artists and crafts people is fully occupied and during the year has had internal redecoration.  Its original aims included:
         Helping local struggling arts and crafts people
         Contributing to the cohesion, vitality and cultural life of the
         Queens Road Estate

Today licence holders at Dickson House include painters, jewellers, photographers, illustrators and designers.  As reported last year, Trustees continue to have to bear in mind changing community and market demands in relation to this property and the adjacent Cambrian Centre, currently used as a community centre and gym.

The RPLC has its offices in the Vestry House on Paradise Road , Richmond . 4 other suites of offices are let out commercially and net income received is distributed in grants.  The Vestry Hall continues to be a popular venue for local voluntary sector groups, such as the Richmond Art Society, to meet.