Strategic housing and support service

We are here to support our residents to be financially secure and live in housing that is warm, safe and healthy.

Strategic Housing and Support provides a range of services and they include:

working with landlords and tenants to improve private rented property conditions
licencing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
support to install home energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements
help to manage housing costs and other bills with free money and debt advice
financial support for problem home energy debt and bills
responding to complaints and work to bring empty hosing back in to use
Licencing Park Homes sites and delivering Fit and Proper Persons Tests
accrediting local private landlords to build stronger partnerships
setting up new private rented tenancies to help those at risk of homelessness

Strategic Housing and Support have been busy delivering frontline services during 2024/25.

Housing Enforcement & Standards Team

533 private rented sector complaints serviced
- which resulted in 764 hazardous housing conditions being removed, creating healthier homes to live in
67 new licences issued for Houses in Multiple Occupation
- helping to make sure they are safe to live in and meet the required standards
91 new tenancies set up through the ‘Private Rented Sector Access Scheme’
- providing vital accommodation for those at risk of homelessness

40 low-income households supported to install free ‘whole house’ energy retrofit improvements through the Home Upgrade Grant 2 scheme
- including Air Source Heat Pumps and solar electric panels
367 referrals serviced and provided with a range of housing support through the ‘Healthy Housing Pathway’
- which has also passed 1,000 referrals since launching
67 vulnerable households provided with free heating and insulation improvements
- reducing the risk of fuel poverty

783 households supported with free money, debt, and income maximisation advice through the ‘Money Smart’ scheme
69 households supported with £122,000 of vital ‘Energy Debt Fund’ grants through the winter
42 events delivered all over the district to provide community advice and raise awareness of the valuable housing related support available

195 private rented properties visited, and 176 hazardous housing conditions removed through the ‘Better Homes Agbrigg’ project
- there has been 334 visits, and 299 hazards removed in total through this project so far
The ‘Wakefield Responsible Landlord Scheme’ continues to build stronger landlord relationships
- attracting 37 new members and processing 37 membership renewals
26 empty homes brought back in to use because of Strategic Housing’s advice and support

For more information you can contact us using the following: