Tenancy sustainment

What is tenancy sustainment?

Our tenancy sustainment service provides short-term, intensive support to customers with multiple needs, who are at serious risk of losing their tenancy if intervention is not provided. We work alongside existing services offered by Selwood Housing and external agencies to ensure customers receive a holistic approach to their needs.

In some circumstances we can also work with new customers (those with no previous experience of holding a tenancy or those with complex situations) to support them in resettling and to help them gain confidence in their rights & responsibilities as a tenancy-holder.

Unfortunately, our tenancy sustainment service is unable to provide ongoing help; customers must be able to maintain their own tenancy in the longer term.

How can it help our customers?

In the case of a breach of tenancy, we will be guided by the referrer who will inform us what they want the outcome to be, and will work with our customer to achieve these goals. For new tenancies, we can support customers through the basics of resettlement.

Examples of support include:

• setting up household bills
• basic budgeting
• accessing benefits
• sourcing furniture
• community involvement
• food bank referrals
• accessing support from other agencies
• grant applicants.

How can a customer get referred?

To get referred, you must be a customer of Selwood Housing, and you must be at risk of losing your tenancy. We may also talk to new customers about tenancy sustainment if they have not set up a home on their own before.

Your Selwood Housing neighbourhood manager or account manager may talk to you about a referral to the tenancy sustainment team to avoid further action.

If you feel that you would benefit from working with a tenancy sustainment coordinator, please speak to your neighbourhood or account manager by calling 01225 715 715.

Please note, we cannot take referrals from other agencies.

Meet the team

If you are referred to the tenancy sustainment service, you will be contacted by one of our coordinators. Alison is our tenancy sustainment coordinator who works as part of the Selwood Housing neighbourhoods team. She works on an individual basis with customers who need help to resettle into a new property as well as customers who are at risk of losing their tenancy.

Alison will meet with you to complete a full needs assessment and develop a support plan with you to meet these needs.