Consultation about a Tenancy Strategy, which sets out how social housing tenants can expect to be treated by their landlords is underway.
Whilst social housing providers are being contacted directly for their views, interested residents, including social housing tenants, are being encouraged to respond to the consultation. The responses and feedback received about the council’s proposed draft Tenancy Strategy in the 8 week consultation period will be considered prior to the Tenancy Strategy being adopted, with consultation ending on 27 November 2023.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said, “Social housing landlords together with the council have a key role to play in both preventing homelessness and providing decent accommodation to those in need. The Tenancy Strategy sets out the universal aims and expectations for social housing landlords to follow and I would encourage all interested parties, including residents, to respond to this consultation, so we can consider a wide range of views before we formally adopt the Strategy.”
The draft Tenancy Strategy sets out how the council seeks to:
- outline the expectations for the types of tenancies granted by social landlords operating in the borough
- support tenants in the management of their home, paying particular attention to those who need more assistance and are vulnerable
- work with social landlords to meet the housing needs of our residents
- support communities to thrive through the creation of sustainable social housing offers
- assist housing developers to understand what the council requires of social landlords who own, let and manage stock in the borough
- ensure that the supply of housing is genuinely affordable as far as possible and built to a good standard
- ensure compliance with legislation and good practice.
The Localism Act 2011 places an obligation on the council to have a tenancy strategy which is drafted in consultation with the housing providers. It sets our expectations of all social landlords operating in the borough and provides guidance on the council’s preferred approach to tenure and affordability with specific consideration to:
- the types of tenancies to be granted
- the circumstances under which different types of tenancies will be granted
- when fixed-term tenancies will be granted, the length of the fixed term and whether a further tenancy will be granted when the fixed term expires.
The consultation follows consideration of the draft Tenancy Strategy in March 2023 and the Executive agreement for consultation.
Ends
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk.