Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Decent and Affordable Homes Policy Development Group had recommended: that the revised Tenancy Changes Policy be approved.

Arising from a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Managing the Decent and Affordable Homes Development Group had recommended that the revised Tenancy Changes Policy be approved

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that the policy had been updated and set out how the Council would deal effectively with tenancy changes, such as successions, assignments in accordance with a Court Order, mutual exchange or assignment to a person qualified to succeed to a tenancy; or a joint tenancy request. The policy contained a new section which explained how the tenant may seek written consent to change their tenancy to either sole or joint tenancy; any requests were at the discretion of the Housing Service.

RESOLVED that the revised policy be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

Note: - *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a report from the Housing Services Manager reviewing the Tenancy Changes Policy (previously known as the Succession & Assignment Policy).

The Group had before it a report * from the Housing Services Manager reviewing the Tenancy Changes Policy (previously known as the Succession & Assignment Policy).

It was explained that the policy had been updated and set out how the Council would deal effectively with tenancy changes such as, successions, assignments in accordance with a Court Order, mutual exchange or assignment to a person qualified to succeed to a tenancy or a joint to sole tenancy request. The title of the policy had been renamed from Succession and Assignment Policy to Tenancy Changes Policy to better reflect what was included in it. The policy contained a new section which stated that tenants may seek written consent to change their tenancy to either a sole or joint tenancy or vice versa. Any requests made would be at the discretion of the housing service. The policy also introduced a section relating to the retraction of notice to terminate a tenancy. This clarified what would happen when a tenant served a notice on the council to end their tenancy and then changed their mind.

Discussion followed with regard to:

·         The fact that if a tenant wished to retract a notice to vacate and then changed their mind, the existing tenancy agreement would still need to be terminated and a new one created.

·         The need for a cooling off period, however, the housing service were governed by housing legislation. Despite this it was confirmed that they did listen to people’s personal circumstances and had a certain amount of discretion.

·         The need for the Council to make the best use of its stock.

·         Having a policy ensured fairness to all tenants who would all be treated in a similar way.

·         If there was a joint tenancy the need to check that both parties were happy to terminate the tenancy would depend on the type of tenancy involved, for example, a flexible tenancy required that both parties needed to give notice.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the revised Tenancy Changes Policy be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr Mrs J Doe and seconded by Cllr Mrs H Bainbridge)

Note: (i)          * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes;

(ii)       Cllr Mrs E M Andrews requested that her abstention from voting be recorded.