Partnerships
We work with various partners to deliver our housing service, many which have been identified throughout the Strategy in areas such as homelessness, domestic abuse and community safety. We are fully committed to developing partnerships and recognise the strength and value of effective joint working arrangements to delivering services.
Some of the additional joint working and partnership groups we are part of are set out in this section.
Kent Housing Group
The Kent Housing Group (KHG) is a forum for housing organisations in Kent and Medway. The group encourages sharing best practice and knowledge, and identifying areas for joint working in order to deliver better housing services. KHG has a number of sub groups which cover more specific areas within housing, such as asset management, tenancy management and private sector housing. Regular sub group meetings are held which Council Officers will attend. The sub groups all support the vision and objectives of KHG, including the implementation of the Kent and Medway Housing Strategy 2025-2030.
Housing Strategy and Enabling Group
The Housing Strategy and Enabling Group is one of the sub groups to the Kent Housing Group. It is formed of all Kent local authorities and some housing associations. The aim of the group is to share best practice in terms of strategy development and service delivery, and aims to develop solutions to identify housing need and assist in the delivery of new affordable housing.
North Kent Housing Partnership
The North Kent Housing Partnership is formed of both housing associations and local authorities which are located in the northern part of the county. The aim of the partnership is to enable the provision of affordable housing in the borough. The group provides a framework for improved coordination of funding programmes and planning of housing developments between the Council, Homes England and housing association partners.
Kent Homechoice
The Kent Homechoice choice-based letting scheme allows those who want to move into Council or housing association social housing to bid on properties within the county. Those who are eligible to join are required to complete an online application form on the Kent Homechoice website. This joint working initiative delivers benefits to our residents and tenants when seeking access to social housing by simplifying the process, providing consistency and aiding mobility across Kent.
Dartford and Gravesham Home Improvement Agency
The Dartford and Gravesham Home Improvement Agency (HIA) aims to assist owner occupiers or private tenants who are over 60 years of age, disabled or on low incomes to repair, improve and/or adapt their homes. The aim is to keep homes suitable to live in and ensure residents are able to continue to live independently.