Decision details

The Cabinet had before it a report * stating that Mid Devon Housing (MDH), as a social landlord, incurred costs that arose from works and other activities which were normally the responsibility of the tenant, including repair of deliberate damage, pest control and property cleans and clearances. The MDH Recharges Policy sought to define the circumstances where such recharges occurred and make clear MDH’s intention to recover such costs.

Consideration was given to:

·         Whether there was a link between the age of a property and the length of the void period. It was explained that often there was a link.

·         Sometimes there was deliberate damage to a property which required repair but which came at a cost.

·         Other costs incurred could include missed appointments, missed inspections including those related to gas safety and tenants who just disappeared with no forwarding address.

·         It was a challenging area but people’s vulnerabilities were always taken into account.

RESOLVED that the updated MDH Recharges Policy and Equality Impact Assessment contained in Annexes A and B respectively be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr S Clist and seconded by Cllr J Lock)

Reason for the decision:

The Council is (and must be) a registered provider of social housing and therefore is required to comply with the regulatory framework and consumer standards operated by the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH). 

As such, it is necessary to ensure that the Recharges Policy addresses all the relevant legal obligations the Council has as a landlord for the housing estate. Consequently, the policy has been produced to ensure MDH has a clear basis for compliance with the relevant statutory consumer standard, which is it the Home Standard in this case.

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the minutes