Guidance

Move On Fund - Supplementary Information for bidders, accessible version

Updated 7 July 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on 17 November 2021

The Move On Fund is live until 31 March 2022 but is closed to new applications.

Applies to England

General bidding enquiries

Are indicative bids acceptable for this fund?

Given the period of availability of the funding, bids are generally expected to be for firm, named schemes only. Indicative bids will be allowed by exception where providers are bringing empty properties back into use to enable them to secure an in principle allocation while suitable properties are being identified.

For indicative bids where the intention is to acquire empty properties would revenue funding be drawn down at completion of the first property or the last?

Revenue funding may only be drawn down upon completion of a completed capital scheme. Providers will be able to profile out indicative allocations into individual firm schemes to allow revenue funding to be drawn down as each firm scheme is completed. Revenue funding payments will be paid quarterly in arrears and cannot be paid in advance of need.

Will residents be expected to further move on from the properties developed under this fund?

Move on accommodation funded by this programme is not intended to be long term housing; rather it is second stage housing providing support for residents who are moving on from hostels or domestic abuse refuges to help them maintain their tenancies in order to ultimately move on into fully independent accommodation. Where a provider wishes to enable a settled individual to remain in the funded property beyond the period that tenancy support is required this would be acceptable, however providers should note that there may be implications in terms of grant recovery if the usage of the property is no longer in line with the aims of the funding . See section below on Grant Recovery.

Eligibility

Will tenancies other than assured shorthold tenancies be acceptable for units delivered through this fund?

Accommodation delivered under the Move On fund is generally expected to be made available under assured shorthold tenancies. This is not however an absolute requirement and Registered Providers and local authorities may offer other types of tenancies or terms of occupation in line with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenancy Standard requirements, provided that they are compatible with the purpose of the intended accommodation and will meet the needs of individual households. There is no assumed minimum / maximum target length for occupation of this accommodation and this can be flexible depending on individual requirements.

Will bids for shared accommodation be considered?

Schemes for people with low support needs who would be more suitably housed in shared accommodation will be considered. Bidders intending to bring forward schemes of this nature should include in their supporting statements details of how the design of shared accommodation has been developed to support people to increase their independence.

Revenue funding for support costs

Is it possible to bid for revenue funding only?

Revenue funding is only available to be accessed by successful bidders of capital grant funding for the ongoing tenancy support and facilitation costs of grant funded schemes through the Move On Fund. Revenue funding is not available for existing schemes.

If a scheme isn’t due to complete until later in the programme, will the two years of revenue funding for support costs still be available?

Revenue funding is available for a maximum of two years through the Move On Fund and will be paid quarterly in arrears following completion of the capital scheme up until March 31st 2021. Where a scheme will not complete in time to receive the full 2 years revenue funding, the applicant must demonstrate how the support will be funded through other resources.

Why are Housing First support costs not eligible under this fund?

The Move On Fund is primarily for the provision of accommodation for those with low and medium level support needs. While Housing First clients can be housed using the programme, we are not making available the level of support funding that would be necessary for the provision of genuine Housing First projects; this should not prevent bidders finding support funding from another source.

Grant recovery

Could units delivered through this fund be converted to general needs once revenue funding is no longer available or if tenancy sustainment support is no longer required by the resident?

Standard Homes England grant recovery arrangements are covered in the Homes England Capital Funding Guide and will apply to all capital grant paid through the Move On Fund. If a relevant event occurs, such as a change of use of the grant funded property to one which is not compatible with the aims of the Move On fund this could lead to the requirement for the grant recipient to repay or recycle the funding.

The grant recipient is required to notify Homes England as soon as possible when such an event may have occurred who will then review on a case by case basis to determine whether any grant is recoverable or recyclable.

Revenue funding paid through the Move On fund is not recoverable assuming that it is used in accordance within the terms of the grant funding agreement.