The number of Council houses in Derby decreases each year despite increasing demand. The last reported number was 12,539 on 31 March 2022. It is the Council’s stated policy to make the best use of every house. Each extra house means another person or family can avoid homelessness.

However, Council houses are still being used by a commercial organisation – for free.

Over 20 years ago NACRO set up a family project which was providing valuable support and help to people in the City. In order to facilitate this project, Derby Homes allocated 28-30 Varley Street in Allenton. These were 2, 3-bedroomed properties that were modified, by NACRO, to become one unit. The lease was for a nominal amount. On exit, NACRO are obliged, under the contract, to restore the building back to it’s former state of 2 houses – ready for residential use.

NACRO is a large national charity with income of £70m pa and £11m of reserves

The Family project ended over a year ago, and the team were made redundant / reassigned. NACRO now use the building for its national maintenance co-ordination team – unrelated to its original purpose and an activity that does not require the use of a Council house.

Comment

These 2 houses are significant properties with ample garden space and should have been restored back to residential standard over a year ago and made available for the Council housing stock.

It is inappropriate, and possibly illegal, for the Council ( through Derby Homes) to provide properties free of charge to a national charity where the usage is not providing a benefit to the City.

Derby Homes should give NACRO notice to quit and to invoke the obligation to convert the property back into 2 houses as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, 2 homeless families are waiting to be housed…