Decision details

Adoption of the Tenancy Strategy 2018

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Localism Act 2011 requires every local housing authority to adopt a Tenancy Strategy. The tenancy strategy describes the types and length of tenancies that the council will offer to tenants of the homes that it owns and how it will set rents.

 

The proposed strategy sets out to describe and protect the rights of the council’s existing and future tenants. In particular the proposed strategy:

 

  • Describes the arrangements for tenants, with different types of tenancies to swap homes,
  • sets out the things that will be considered when deciding whether to renew a flexible or fixed term tenancy,
  • includes appeal rights for tenants, and
  • describes the council’s approach to setting rents.

 

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to:

 

1.  Approve the consultation draft of the Tenancy Strategy attached at annex 1 of the Cabinet report;

 

2.  Delegate authority to the Head of Housing and Planning in consultation with the cabinet member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods to make any minor amendments required to the policy following consultation.

Reasons for the decision:

Members of Cabinet supported the proposed consultation draft of the Tenancy Strategy 2018. Overall the strategy aims to offer tenancies that are suited to the needs of the council’s tenants and to support them to remain in their home for as long as they need it. The proposals balance the needs of existing and future tenants of the council and will ensure that decisions about tenancies and rents are taken fairly and openly.

Alternative options considered:

The Cabinet also considered the following options:

 

  1. To reject the proposed draft of the tenancy strategy. This option was rejected as the council has a statutory duty to prepare and publish a Tenancy Strategy.

 

  1. To amend the proposed draft Tenancy Strategy. This option was rejected as was considered to address the requirements on the council to publish a tenancy strategy. The draft strategy is subject to consultation.

Report author: Bob Porter

Publication date: 27/07/2018

Date of decision: 26/07/2018

Decided at meeting: 26/07/2018 - Cabinet

Effective from: 04/08/2018

Accompanying Documents: