Switch’s Managing Director, John Angus, was recently interviewed by Voice of Islam Radio to delve into the mission of Switch Housing, as part of the station’s special feature on ‘Housing Shortages: The Fight for Affordable Living’.
In a wide-ranging interview, John discussed our commitment to sourcing safe and secure residential housing for vulnerable families across the UK, who have been placed in temporary accommodation. Our programme is delivered in partnership with local authorities and private landlords, with a model that can help to address pressing issues around affordable housing shortages – both now and in the future.
Here, John shares some of his key insights.
A new approach to temporary accommodation
As a values-led business, the culture and ethos we have embedded at Switch extends to every facet of the business. When we established Switch Housing, we spoke to local councils about the standards they expected us to apply in our properties – and we were surprised to find that these regulations were minimum, or non-existent.
This gave us the opportunity to set our own ethical standards as a housing provider. By providing the highest levels of customer service, tenant liaison, property compliance and management, we were confident this would be a sound investment in the long-term.
Providing solutions and support
At Switch Housing, we go beyond the simple bricks and mortar that make a house. We’re proud to deliver tailored support programmes in response to the individual needs of each tenant – ranging from monthly food banks, to school uniform provisions, and transport assistance.
This approach has enabled us to create a community within our properties and, in turn, provide a home and standard of living that tenants are proud of, and want to maintain.
Switch’s people-led approach is in line with my personal values as a business owner. During Covid-19, we opened up our properties to those in need and, at our landmark hotel, Park Regis Birmingham, we delivered 15,000 free meals to children throughout the pandemic. This commitment to local communities resulted in the Switch Housing programme, allowing us to create positive impact for vulnerable families further afield.
Working in partnership
In the current system, many vulnerable families are initially placed in hotels or B&Bs by their local council, and later moved into private properties. With no long-term contracts in place, and properties offering varying levels of compliance, families can face ongoing uncertainty while enduring sub-standard living conditions.
We want to move people away from the temporary accommodation model and into private living, where they have the stability and security to start to re-build their lives.
As an example, we recently surveyed 400 homes for a London council and found that 50% of properties had issues with damp and mould. Our property management service includes conducting professional surveys of the building in advance, providing condition surveys that are co-signed by the tenant and landlord, and offering a 24-hour call centre for any maintenance issues.
Our full and comprehensive housing programme goes the extra mile. Staff regularly meet tenants from the train station when they have re-located from other cities in the UK, help to arrange removal trucks, and ensure families are fully settled in their new home.
For us, this level of investment is common sense – if you treat tenants as you would wish to be treated yourself, they will feel more welcome, and this will lead to better outcomes for all.
Removing the stigma
To continue to achieve more positive outcomes – for councils, private landlords and, most importantly, tenants – local authorities need to take a different approach. At Switch, we have a strong network of local authority partners who understand that to get more people into the private rental sector, you need to provide guarantees that help to remove the stigma around social housing tenancies.
To help address this challenge, we offer private landlords both rental and damages guarantees, so they have full assurance and protection in advance of a tenancy. This transparent and comprehensive approach helps to create long-term partnerships and, in turn, deliver better housing solutions.
Ambitions for the future
The challenge of providing affordable housing remains a key point on the political agenda, with Labour’s promise to build 1.5million homes in next five years reflecting the scale of the issue.
However, the problem will not be solved by the creation of new homes alone – we must also consider existing housing and building stock across the UK. Many local councils own empty or unused tower blocks, libraries and offices, which could be converted into affordable housing and make a significant contribution to the government’s ambitious targets.
Looking ahead, I would like to see temporary accommodation removed from the system – and instead, move towards a private rental model that is efficient and effective for local authorities, landlords and tenants. Only then, can we ensure safe, secure and stable housing solutions for those most in need.
