The Committee is to receive an update to the Cabinet Report.
Minutes:
In accordance to the Council’s Continuous Improvement Model, the Committee received a presentation update on the Revised Housing Allocation Scheme and Tenancy Strategy
The Committee was informed that the report that went to Cabinet detailed a revised Allocations Scheme covering the eligibility for, and letting of, council housing in the borough. The revisions take account of the new freedoms and flexibilities afforded local authorities with regard to the letting of council homes brought in by the Localism Act 2011. The revisions had been informed by a thorough and detailed consultation with residents who were likely to be affected and stakeholders both within and outside the Council.
Members were informed that part of the strategy included the draft Tenancy Strategy which was a new requirement for each housing authority, brought in by the Localism Act 2011.
The Tenancy Strategy outlined the council’s approach to the use of fixed term tenancies, rather than lifetime secure tenancies. This also affected Housing Associations operating in the borough who were required to have regard to the Tenancy Strategy when setting their own tenancy policies. Members gathered that given the influencing role of the Strategy, it also included details of the Council’s approach to affordable rents, these being rents of up to 80% of local market rents, introduced in 2011.
The draft Tenancy Strategy had been produced following thorough and detailed consultation with residents, registered providers i.e. housing associations or registered social landlords and other stakeholders.
The Committee was informed of the impact of the new Allocations Scheme. That it had led to a large drop in the numbers on the Housing Register from 13,500 households down to 2,500
It had led to people who were contributing to the local community coming top on the bidding lists.
This had also provided greater possibility of adequately housed council tenants wishing to transfer being rehoused, for example, from a flat to a house.
Members were informed that the new allocation scheme had affected a large number of people were unhappy to be removed from the Housing Register. These were typically the following:
· people living outside of Havering
· people renting privately who would like to rent from the Council but their current home is adequate for their needs
· people living with family but are not overcrowded
An appeals process was put in place to address their concern and issues.
The presentation outlined to the Committee following the 2013 revisions, the following key amendments had been introduced in 2014:
• Definition of ‘local people’ – now five years’ residency rather than two years
• Some working households, while they had enough room, struggle to live independently on low wages – new priority for housing
• Some people claimed ‘trading on e-bay’ and the like as ‘working’ – new requirement to demonstrate working for at least the minimum wage
• People with an Emergency Rehousing need often turned down offers – now, just one suitable offer would be made
The presentation outlined the following impact of the Strategy
That Tenancy given since 9 April 2013:
• 59% lifetime tenancy
• 1% three year fixed term tenancy
• 39% five year fixed term tenancy
• 1% non-secure tenancy
The Committee noted the presentation.