Overview
Purpose and aims of a Tenancy Strategy
The Localism Act 2011 placed a duty on local authorities to produce a tenancy strategy that sets out the Authority’s expectations for social housing landlords, including their own landlord function in relation to:
- The kind of tenancies granted
- The circumstances in which tenancy of a particular kind will be granted
- Where they can grant tenancies for a term certain, the lengths of terms
- The circumstances in which they will grant a further tenancy on the coming to an enc of an existing tenancy
The purpose of the strategy is to provide guidance to registered providers who provide social homes in a local authority area, including the Authority’s own landlord function to:
- Ensure housing stock meets local housing need
- Benefit vulnerable households
- Enable households to make informed housing choices based on their individual circumstances
- Strengthen and maintain successful and sustainable communities
- Prevent homelessness
In developing this strategy, regard has been given to the following legislation:
- The current allocation scheme under Section 166A of the Housing Act 1996
- The current homelessness strategy under Section One of the Homelessness Act 2002
From January 2018, the regulation of social housing providers in England is the function of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). The RSH is a stand-alone agency, which fulfils one part of the role of the former Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
All social housing providers are required to be registered with the regulator, including local authorities, housing associations, housing co-operatives, profit making organisations and any other form of housing provider.
As part of the framework for the regulation of social housing providers, the regulator of social housing sets standards which registered providers of social housing must meet. These include a Tenancy Standard. Registered Providers must have a clear tenancy policy setting out the purpose of the accommodation, the needs of individual households, the sustainability of the community, and the efficient use of housing.
The Authority has no regulatory powers to determine which tenancy terms Registered Providers may offer in North Tyneside; but expects social housing providers who operate in the borough to have regard for this Tenancy Strategy when developing their tenancy policies.
A stable, secure home and environment is the foundation to a person’s life chances. It impacts on our ability to secure and sustain employment, educational attainment and overall health and wellbeing. Expected outcomes from registered housing providers of social housing include:
- Tenancies offered provide a level of security for the tenant
- Ensuring that prospective tenants receive comprehensive advice and information on what service to expect from their housing provider
- Affordable rents contribute to the delivery of new homes
- A balance of flexibility in social housing promoting settled, sustainable and mixed tensure communities
This strategy supports the Council’s commitment to championing equality and ensuring procedures are in place, so all residents are treated fairly and without unlawful discrimination in line with the Equality Act 2010. The Authority is working to reduce any disadvantage caused by isolation and social exclusion.
An Equality Impact Assessment was carried out to ensure the housing needs of all, including those with a protected characteristic are met.