Decision Maker: Babergh Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The policy will apply to all Council tenants in all wards
To gain approval of the Tenancy Policy for Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council
It was RESOLVED: -
To approve the Tenancy Policy (Appendix A)
REASON FOR DECISION
The Tenancy Policy meets the requirements of the Regulator for Social Housing, providing information for tenants to understand how their occupation of Council homes will be managed.
Consistent with the current political agenda for social housing the Tenancy Policy prioritises long-term security of tenure for tenants over tenancies of a fixed length. This will allow tenants and their families to create a home in Council properties and build thriving and diverse communities in our housing estates.
In the time elapsed since their introduction, fixed term tenancies have been proven to be a largely ineffective in providing their anticipated benefits of reducing housing waiting lists. Managing and administering Flexible fixed term tenancies has proven to be costly and time consuming for landlords, and unsettling for tenants, particularly vulnerable tenants and those suffering with mental illness.
The Councils will create a new, separate policy which will support efficient use of the Councils’ housing stock by encouraging tenants to downsize. Such policy is included in the Homes and Housing Strategy (objective 2g) and may include provide financial incentives, advice and practical support to tenants who are under-occupying their homes to assist and encourage them to free-up larger homes for families.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
2.1 At an ‘Early Warning’ Cabinet Briefing on 26th September 2022, Cabinet members considered the following fundamental decision in the Tenancy Policy:
2.2 Option 1: to continue the current practice of granting Secure Tenancies which provide long-term security of tenancy, or;
2.3 Option 2: to grant Flexible (fixed term) Tenancies which only provide security for a short period of time (typically 5 years).
2.4 In light of the changes in Government agenda and the Housing Sector in recent years (please refer to explanatory note in Appendix B), and mindful of Government’s intention to abolish fixed-term tenancies in private and social housing by 2030, Cabinet members voted in favour of Option 1, for Secure Tenancies to remain the primary form of tenancy for Council tenants. The Tenancy Policy has therefore been created to confirm and clarify the Councils’ current practice of providing and managing tenancies.
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Publication date: 11/01/2023
Date of decision: 09/01/2023
Decided at meeting: 09/01/2023 - Babergh Cabinet
Effective from: 19/01/2023
Accompanying Documents: