Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

Building a Housing Ladder of Opportunity –Tenancy Strategy3.15 By granting fixed term tenancies, registered providers will be able toregularly review how the properties are being used, ensuring that thetenants who were granted the properties are the ones occupying them.3.16 In summary, the authority considers there to be a compelling case forall registered providers to introduce flexible tenancies which in turn hasinfluenced the approach that is set out in the Housing AllocationScheme. The social housing sector has for many years been seen asa stand-alone part of the housing market with very little relationship tothe experience of other residents of housing, particularly workinghouseholds, who live in the private rented sector. The Council isseeking to redress this position and integrate social housing within thehousing market via plans outlined in this Strategy and other documentspublished in due course.3.17 There is a broader issue of how the passing of the 2011 Localism Actcan facilitate a major shift towards ensuring all affordable housingmakes a greater contribution to accommodating the needs andaspirations of the borough’s current and future residents. The keydocument to achieve that objective is the Housing Allocation Scheme.4. Flexible Tenancies - Our Proposed Approach4.1 In simple terms, the Council in its local housing authority role isrecommending to all Registered Providers (i.e., the Council in itslandlord role and housing associations) that fixed term tenancies areissued for the large majority of future affordable housing lettings. . Allfixed term tenancies will normally be preceded by a one yearintroductory tenancy (also previously known as a probationarytenancy). This will not apply to transfer cases (including ‘decant’ cases)eligible for secure or assured tenancies. The fixed terms recommendedare as follows:• Five Year fixed term tenancies for proposed tenants who arenominated from the Council’s Housing Register including those whomeet the ‘reasonable preference’ criteria set out in current, relevantlegislation• Two Year fixed term tenancies where the proposed tenant(s) isaged between 18-25 years old *• Two Year Fixed tenancies where the council is satisfied theproposed tenant (or a member their household) has been guilty ofunacceptable behaviour which makes him or her unsuitable to be atenant. Examples of such behaviour include; persistent failure topay rent; anti social behaviour which has caused a nuisance;threats or actual violence against neighbours, council staff,managing agents or contractors; obtaining a tenancy by deceptionand persistent failure to comply with other tenancy conditions.7Page 432