Decision details

Amendments to the Tenancy Policy after 12 months operation

(1)        That, as recommended by the Housing Scrutiny Panel in its report (C-068a-2014/15) and subject to the proposed changes attached at Appendix 2 of the report, Flexible (fixed term) Tenancies be continued with a fixed term of 10 years, including the Introductory Tenancy period;

(2)        That the following amendments be made to the Council’s Tenancy Policy:

            (a)        Flexible (fixed-term) Tenancies be extended to all Council properties          excluding sheltered accommodation and grouped dwelling schemes;

            (b)        all existing Post-Act Secure (lifetime) Tenants be granted Secure   Tenancies when downsizing Council accommodation (for one move only) and     afforded the same protection as all Pre-Localism Act Tenants; and

            (c)        the following requirement be added under the Assessment Criteria             which would apply to all new Flexible (fixed-term) Tenancies granted from the           date the revised Tenancy Policy came into force:

            (i)         a further tenancy (Flexible or Secure) would not generally be           granted where, in accordance with the Council’s Housing Allocations   Scheme (in force on the date the Six Months Notice was served), the          Flexible (fixed-term) Tenant, in the opinion of the Council, had             sufficient income and/or assets to enable them to meet their housing         need themselves;

(3)        That, following a consultation exercise, the comments of the Tenants and Leaseholders Federation, partner agencies, Parish and Town Councils and partner Registered Providers be noted, and the Officer responses be agreed, as set out at Appendix 2 of the report;

(4)        That the revised Tenancy Policy be adopted and implemented on 1 July 2015; and

(5)        That the Tenancy Policy be reviewed again after two years of operation with the reviewed Policy implemented on 1 April 2018.