Housing Consultations

The Localism Act 2011 introduced a number of housing reforms. These changes include giving local authorities and Registered Providers^[1] (RPs), also known as housing associations, the freedom to introduce flexible fixed-term tenancies from April onwards which have a limited security of tenure. In addition to these, the Act also gives freedom to councils to review their allocation schemes (the subject of a separate consultation), changes to homelessness legislation and the reform of council housing finance.

The Act also requires local authorities to produce a Tenancy Strategy. As the strategic housing authority, Havering Council has been working in partnership with East London authorities and RPs to shape the draft strategy. We have also had regard to our Allocation Scheme review, Homelessness strategy and the Revised Draft London Housing strategy.

This Strategy sets out our performance to date, local information and provides guidance to RPs on the following issues:

• making best use of housing stock in the borough
• increasing housing mobility
• meeting the needs of those in priority need
• assessing affordability of 80% market rent to local people
• flexible fixed-term tenancies

As the Council owns social housing stock the draft Tenancy Strategy also sets out our proposals for introducing flexible fixed-term tenancies in chapter 7 of the Draft Tenancy Strategy and in particular the following:

• The kinds of tenancies we grant
• The circumstances in which we will provide a tenancy of a particular kind
• Where we grant tenancies for a certain term, the length of the terms, and
• The circumstances in which we will and will not grant a further tenancy when it comes to an end.

Please read the draft Tenancy Strategy consultation papers on this page before completing and submitting our online survey. The survey questionnaire focuses on future flexible fixed-term tenancies but there is an opportunity to give your views on the wider document towards the end of the questionnaire.

Please tell us what you think – we want to hear your views before a final decision is made. Our consultation runs until Sunday 20 May 2012 and responses will inform our final Strategy.

Please tell us what you think – we want to hear your views before a final decision is made. Our consultation runs until Sunday 20 May 2012 and responses will inform our final Strategy.

[1] Registered Providers – sometimes called Registered Social Landlords or Housing Associations

Frequently asked questions

How will the Tenancy Strategy affect me?

The Tenancy Strategy when agreed will affect most new Havering Council tenants. We are proposing to introduce flexible fixed-term tenancies. In most cases they will be for a period of 5 years and renewed on a 5-yearly basis. Please note that the changes may affect new tenants, but existing tenants who already have a secure ‘lifetime’ tenancy will not be affected. Come along to a session to hear more about the proposals the details can be downloaded on this page.

The draft Tenancy Strategy also gives guidance to housing associations on what to do to meet changes set out by the Government. This includes a change from secure ‘lifetime’ tenancies to flexible fixed term tenancies and the new Affordable Rents system. Some housing associations that are building new housing under a national scheme are now able to offer properties at Affordable Rents, that are higher than social housing rents and up to 80% of market rent values.

Who are you consulting on the Draft Allocation Scheme?

We welcome views from housing associations, people on the housing register, residents, local organisations and other public sector organisations. Once the consultation is complete, responses will inform our final strategy.

I want to talk to someone about Havering Council’s draft Tenancy Strategy - who can I contact?

We are consulting on the proposed changes until Sunday 20 May. If you have any queries, please contact Stephanie Bollen Hickman on 01708 434036.

I don’t have access to the Internet at home. How can I get the Council’s consultation and respond to it?

You can request a paper copy of the consultation and questionnaire. Please contact Stephanie Bollen Hickman on 01708 434036.

What will happen next?

Once the consultation closes, we will consider all responses and these will inform our final Tenancy Strategy which will need to be agreed by Councillors before it is introduced.

I need the Draft Tenancy Strategy document in another format.

If you require the Draft Tenancy Strategy in large print, Braille, on audiotape or in any other format, please contact Stephanie Bollen Hickman on 01708 434036.

Initial results following consultation on Havering Council’s Housing Allocations Review

We’d like to thank everyone who gave their views on the Council’s Housing Allocations Review in January and February this year.

See the document entitled "Havering Housing Allocations Review Summary" on the right hand side of the screen for the main responses to our survey questions.