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 approval be given for the Council to vary the terms of the tenancy agreement by serving a notice of variation to secure tenants in accordance with sections 102 and 103 of the Housing Act 1985.

Arising from a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services the Decent and Affordable Homes Policy Development Group had recommended that approval be given for the Council to vary the terms of the tenancy agreement by serving a notice of variation to secure tenants in accordance with sections 102 and 103 of the Housing Act 1985.

The Cabinet Member for Housing outlined the contents of the report stating that the Council currently operated nine different tenancy agreements relating to introductory, secure and flexible tenancies, the revised agreement amalgamated those documents into one.  As part of the consultation process all current secure tenants had been consulted on the proposed changes, 72 responses had been received.

RESOLVED that the revised agreement be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr  R J Chesterton)

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

To receive a report from the Housing Services Manager proposing changes to the revised Tenancy Agreement following consultation with tenants.

The Group had before it a report * of the Housing Services Manager presenting the proposed changes to the revised Tenancy Agreement following consultation with tenants.

The officer outlined the contents of the report explaining that the Council currently operated nine different tenancy agreements relating to introductory, secure and flexible tenancies. The revised tenancy agreement amalgamated those documents into one. The current version of the introductory and secure tenancy agreement was introduced in 2010.  Since then, flexible tenancies (2 and 5 year terms) had been introduced.  The review of all the tenancy agreements currently in use had meant that the conditions of tenancy in all the agreements could be amended, as appropriate, bringing them into line with new legislation, regulatory requirements, policy and good practice. The Policy set out the consultation that had been undertaken, which was extensive, and listed outcomes.

The Housing Services Manager further explained that national Housing Policy was evolving.  The Housing and Planning Act had become Statute within the previous month and this ended lifetime tenancies.  Despite forthcoming changes it had been agreed to go forward with the Tenancy Agreement as there was a clause included which stated that areas within it could be superseded if new legislation was implemented.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The use of Facebook and Twitter for consultation;

·         Changes only applying to new and not existing tenants;

·         The possibility of changing from 48 week to 52 week rent payments in the future;

·         Universal Credit and the impact that this could have on rent payments;

·         Persons with Power of Attorney were treated as tenants.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that approval be given for the Council to vary the terms of the tenancy agreement by serving a notice of variation to secure tenants in accordance with sections 102 and 103 of the Housing Act 1985.

(Proposed by Cllr W J Daw and seconded by Cllr Mrs H Bainbridge)

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