14
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
ANNUAL REPORT2 0 1 5
9 new homes created�rom empty properties
27 volunteers gainedskills and experience
118 people currentlyhoused
ABOUT LATCH
Latch re�urbishes empty,rundown houses in Leeds. Mucho� the renovation work is done byunemployed volunteers, who gainskills and experience working onsite.
When they’re �ully modernisedand �urnished, our propertiesprovide supported housing �orpeople who are homeless or inhousing need and ready to makepositive changes in their lives.
By bringing empty propertiesback into use, we provide goodquality homes, training �orunemployed people, improveneighbourhoods and create jobs�or local people.
CEO’S REPORT
2014-15 saw the growth o� previous yearscontinue in a steady and sustainable way.The number o� properties Latch owns andmanages rose again, �rom 54 to 64. OurHousing Support Service continued toachieve high quality outcomes �or ourtenants and participation in training andvolunteering continued to increase.
Demand �or Latch services remained veryhigh with demand outstripping supply �orour housing, support and volunteeringservices. This high demand is in�ormingour plans �or the next �ew years.
Our plans �or the �uture include:● Purchasing and re�urbishing more
empty properties● Providing more training and
employment opportunities● Continuing to provide high quality
housing related support
An extremely satis�ying �eature o� the lastyear has been the �eedback �rom Latchtenants. The senior team have beeninterviewing tenants about their
experiences o� Latch and their responseshave been very positive. Feedback is beingused to shape and improve services.
Our �inancial per�ormance has again beenexcellent, with the increase in Latchhousing stock and subsequent increase inrental income being a signi�icant driver.Expenditure has in turn increased but asensible surplus has been achieved.
Looking to the �uture we anticipate thatausterity and wel�are re�orms will bitedeeper into the lives o� our tenants. As anorganisation we are reasonably wellplaced to absorb the coming changes andwill do all we can to assist our tenants andpartners with the challenges they �ace.
Thank you and well done to all o� the sta��team �or the hard work and commitmentthey have shown. Thank you also to ourManagement Committee members,tenants, volunteers and partners �or theirsupport during the year.
James Hartley
EMPTY HOMES
This year saw the end o� our three yearEmpty Homes Programme, which was�unded through grants �rom DCLG,Nationwide, Jimbo’s Fund, and Tudor Trust,plus a loan �rom Ecology Building Society.In total, Latch purchased and re�urbished�i�teen empty homes through theprogramme.
Over the last year, a huge e��ort by Latchsta��, volunteers and contractors saw ninerundown empty houses trans�ormed intocom�ortable �amily homes, providinghousing �or twenty people.
Vinery View, pictured here, was one o� theworst properties we have ever re�urbished.Empty �or seven years, it had structuralproblems, rotten �loorboards, brokenwindows and needed a completere�urbishment. We did wonder why we hadever agreed to buy it! But a �ew monthslater the hard work paid o�� and it’s now awarm and com�ortable �amily home.
LOW ENERGY HOMES
Since 2012, Latch has developedsubstantial skills and experience ininstalling high levels o� insulation andairtightness works to our homes makingthem warm and a��ordable to heat. We �itunder�loor, solid wall and lo�t insulation,install triple glazed windows and highper�ormance external doors, and carry outextensive airtightness works.
A �ull programme o� these works typicallygives Victorian terraced houses an EnergyPer�ormance Rating o� B and can save upto 70% o� the energy required to heat aproperty. Tenants are very positive aboutthe properties we have improved, as theystay warm, cost less to heat and don’tsu��er �rom problem condensation.
We have developed and re�ined ourmethods and understanding, using avariety o� di��erent insulation systems andapproaches. We now �avour breathablesystems using natural materials in mostcases.
In June 2015 we started a pilot called LatchLow Energy Homes, o��ering insulationservices to homeowners. We had a reallystrong response �rom a small amount o�publicity, showing that there is a realdesire �or this type o� service out there.
We visited customers in their homes, todiscuss the problems they have and theareas in which they’d like to makeimprovements. We recommended themost appropriate insulation measurestaking into account the property, budgetand desires o� the customer, and providedquotes �or carrying out the work.
From August to November we carried outseveral jobs, including internal wall, �loorand room in roo� insulation, all resulting inhappy and, hope�ully, warm customers.We are reviewing these jobs to establishthe �inancial viability o� the enterprise,which will determine �uture plans.
The photos opposite show Latch sta�� andvolunteers �itting thermal improvementson houses we re�urbished.
LOW ENERGY HOMES
The �ront room o� a terraced house be�ore and a�ter internal wall insulation is �itted
Fitting board to the internal insulationready �or plastering
Building a �rame over the insulation board
HOW WE HELP
Every year, Latch provides housing andsupport to enable homeless andunemployed people to get back on their�eet. These are the stories o� a �ew o� thepeople we helped this year:
Alya’s Story:
I came to Britain as an asylum seeker in2007 unsure o� the journey ahead and wasgiven a �lat by Latch in 2014.
With Latch’s support I’m now volunteeringwith young people and with ChapeltownCarnival. I also do paid work at Black HealthInitiative promoting the understanding o��emale genital mutilation. I am verygrate�ul �or the support that I get �romLatch whilst I am waiting �or inde�initeleave to remain.
Jordan’s Story:
By the time I was 30 I’d spent 10 years injail �or drug related crimes. I’d done someconstruction courses while I was inside andmy probation o��icer told me about Latch.I started volunteering �or them doing uphouses and loved it. My cousin o��ered mea job in his building company i� I stayed outo� trouble �or 6 months, and now I’mworking �or him.
Paul’s story:
Be�ore I joined Latch I had been sleepingon various so�as �or over a year, bidding�or council �lats, getting nowhere and�eeling very negative.
One o� my �riends told me about Latchand within 2 weeks o� registering I waso��ered a �lat and assigned a supportworker. I was really happy but alsonervous about how I’d cope as I’d neverhad a property be�ore. The regular visitsand help �rom my support worker meansI’ve been able to be on top o� everythingand manage my �lat.
My experience with Latch has been greatand I can’t thank them enough �or all thehelp I’ve received. It has led on to mehaving a positive outlook and looking�orward to the �uture.
HOW WE HELP
Steve’s Story:
I started taking drugs to relax on aweekend and a�ter realising that I couldmake money started selling them. Overtime I realised I was unable to stop takingdrugs and had many �ailed attempts atdetox.
Eventually I was arrested and charged withsupplying drugs. I was taken to hospital�ollowing the collapse o� my liver. Detoxcentres and hostels would no longer takeme as I was still drinking and had had somany attempts at detoxing. The doctortold me that i� I took another drink I’d die.
Through my probation o��icer I got a placein a dry house and a�ter 6 months there Iwas re�erred to Latch. Theirpro�essionalism and knowledge o� myillness was amazing and I was put on thewaiting list �or supported housing.
Whilst on the waiting list I relapsed and myLatch support worker helped me and
urged me to seek treatment. They alwayssent a text o� encouragement wheneveryone else had given up.
When I was admitted to hospital again mysupport worker was the only visitor I had.I was in the depths and did something thatI’d never done be�ore. I asked my supportworker �or help. They told me to go backto the dry house and never give up on mydream o� being sober.
It was the �irst time I had ever listened toanyone and the best advice I could everhave had. My support worker hasencouraged me to keep �ighting my illnessat times when I’ve �elt low. I’m now 13months sober and have been o��ered aproperty with Latch.
There are no words to describe howgrate�ul I am to Latch. They treated me likea human being, never gave up on me andguided me to sa�ety. I am still on thejourney o� recovery but I know I’m notalone.
Rental income £435 127
Support servicecontract £126 651
Capital �unding �orproperties £577 000
INCOME
Latch’s income increased to£1 286 157, an increase o� 35% onthe previous year.
Rental income increased due to:
● The increased number o�properties
● Improved per�ormance in voidand arrears management
Thank you to all our �unders, whohelped us to continue and expandour work this year:
BIG Lottery £20 031DCLG Empty Homes £595 821Jimbo’s Fund £20 000Nationwide £28 100Tudor Trust £28 667Community Led £24 397Support Fund
Total expenditure£670 770
Value o� �ixed assetsincreased to £2 282 165
Fund balance increasedto £ 1 983 047
EXPENDITURE
Latch’s expenditure increased to£670 770, an increase o� 9% onthe previous year.
The net income surplus �or theyear was £615 387. O� this, £570902 was restricted �unds, whichincludes capital �unds spent onbuying properties that areretained on the balance sheet as�ixed assets.
As the �igures demonstrate, Latchis in a strong postion �or the�uture. We have strong andsustainable income streams.Expenditure is under control andwe have strong �oundations tosupport our aspirations toincrease our housing stock.
THE FUTURE
Latch is looking ahead and anticipating achallenging and changing externalenvironment, with more demand �or ourhousing and support services, rising landand property prices, uncertainty aroundcommissioned services and morecompetition �or �ewer grants. We aredeveloping a strategy that will enable usto continue providing our core serviceswithout reliance on external sources o��unding.
To meet the demand �or housing andincrease rental income, Latch is busyplanning another Empty HomesProgramme starting in spring 2016.Through this programme we will purchaseand re�urbish 16 empty homes to enableus to house more homeless people. Theprogramme will be �inanced through amixture o� grants and loans securedagainst our property assets.
We are hoping to �ind a suitable propertyto convert into several one bed �lats tomeet the demand �or housing �rom singlepeople, especially those under 25.
Through the Latch volunteer programme,long term unemployed people will havethe opportunity to volunteer on there�urbishments and gain skills,quali�ications, con�idence and workexperience, to enable them to move on toemployment or �ormal training.
Latch’s contract with Leeds City Council toprovide supported housing ends in 2017,and we are working with the council andother provider organisations to develop aconsortium that will provide this serviceon a citywide basis.
Latch is working with Resonance, aconsultancy which specialises in housingand social investment. Resonance ishelping us to get investment ready byidenti�ying and analysing options �or�uture development, improving our impactmeasurement and advising us about socialinvestment. This will enable Latch todetermine the best options to enable usto develop more housing and become�inancially sel�-sustaining.
THANK YOU!
A big thank you to all our supporters,�unders, tenants, volunteers, partners,suppliers, sta�� and ManagementCommittee members.
Anna MilnerARCBig LotteryBlacks SolicitorsCanopy Housing ProjectChristine McLeanCllr Jane DowsonChevin Housing AssociationColin Masters, Master AlarmsConnect Housing AssociationCrime Reduction InitiativeDave Newstead, Condensing HeatingDepartment �or Communities and Local GovernmentEcology Building SocietyEryl Foulkes and Tudor TrustFamily Intervention ServiceGarry MackintoshGIPSILGlasspoolHelen Thompson and REAPIan Pickup Associates
InkwellJames Kilroy, Leeds City CouncilJennie Bryce, TribalJohn Statham, Leeds City CouncilJon Fitzmaurice, Sel�-Help HousingKen HarrisonLeeds Environmental Design AssociatesLeeds Addiction UnitLeeds City CouncilLeeds Community FoundationLeeds EmptiesLeeds Housing ConcernLeeds Housing OptionsLeeds Sustainability InstituteLeeds Women’s AidLeeds and Yorkshire Housing AssociationLorna Mackie and Nationwide FoundationMark GouldenMark Ireland and the Empty Homes teamMartyn Broadest, Connect HousingMatthew Nice, St George’s CryptMichael Oldham, Leeds City Council
THANK YOU!
Nabarro McAllisterNatashia MattocksNeil Evans, Leeds City CouncilPenny CarterPeter CravenQLMRoundhay Environmental Action ProjectRichard Panter, HCASaiqa Ashra�, Romero InsuranceShepherd’s Lane Children’s CentreSimon PhilpottSimon Pickering, Leeds City CouncilSteve Ellis, TekspertiseTD Direct InvestingTogether Women ProjectTrish Rogers, Business in the CommunityWayne Noteman, Unity HousingWest Yorkshire Probation
Management Committee:
Dennis BernardStephen BoyleDavid Clarke (�rom April 2015)Duncan Clark (until April 2015)Kat Donegan
Lucy FountainKeith GibsonMaggie GjessingDavid RipleyCaleb SuttonCarol White
Sta��:
Nas AkhtarIan Bailey (�rom July 2015)Joe Brown (until November 2015)Dan ChaplinAlan FowkesJames HartleyKen JonesKatrina MeliaRandolph MortonDavid PittsDonna RahillyMags ShevlinMay Simargool (�rom August 2015)Simone Stapleton
176 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4HPTel: 0113 2374482Email: in�[email protected] Bene�it Society 27643R
Latch
