Have your say on our Draft Tenancy Policy

Closed 27 Nov 2024

Opened 23 Oct 2024

Contact

housingstrategy@westnorthants.gov.uk

Overview

We are consulting on the West Northamptonshire draft Tenancy Policy which applies to all council tenants in West Northamptonshire.

Background

In April 2024, The Regulator of Social Housing introduced new rules called Consumer Standards for Social Housing Landlords in England. One key rule, the Tenancy Standard, needs every Registered Provider of Social Housing to publish easy to understand policies about how they manage tenancies.

Although we do not have to consult on the draft Tenancy Policy, there is a legal need for us to consult tenants on changes in housing management including policy or practice. The Tenancy Policy is new for West Northamptonshire Council, and replaces the previous Northampton Borough Council Tenancy Policy (2019) and it is important to get peoples input on the aspects that most affect them.

What are the main changes?

There is very little difference between the previous and new policies, these are summarised below:

New West Northamptonshire Council draft Tenancy Policy Previous Northampton Borough Council policy (2019)
Has the option to offer flexible tenancies to new council tenants in special cases. Does not issue flexible tenancies to new council tenants.
All new council tenants will start with a 12-month introductory tenancy. If they complete this period satisfactorily, they will get a secure tenancy. Most council tenants will start with an introductory tenancy. The exception to this is those aged over 55 years old moving into older persons housing or households with a person with certain disabilities, who were given a secure tenancy right away.

 

Additionally, the new rules give tenants more rights to influence how their homes and services are managed. This consultation will let council tenants have a say on the policy before it is finalised.

The draft Policy has been developed on the recently adopted Tenancy Strategy. It explains the types of tenancies for homes owned by West Northamptonshire Council that are managed by Northamptonshire Partnership homes who have also been involved in the development.

Read more about what is included in the draft Policy

The draft Tenancy Policy is a document that outlines how the Council will manage and oversee tenancies, this includes:

  • Tenancy sustainment and preventing evictions: The policy will explain how the Council will work to help tenants look after their tenancies to stay in their home and avoid being evicted.
  • Managing flexible tenancies (fixed term): The policy explains how the Council will handle tenancies that are granted for a fixed period of time, rather than for a lifetime.
  • Tackling tenancy fraud: The policy will set out how the Council will work to identify and address any cases where people are illegally using their Council homes.
  • Managing Succession: The policy will explain how the Council will handle situations where a tenancy is passed on to another person, such as when a tenant passes away.
  • Managing changes of tenancies: The policy will outline how the Council will deal with situations where there is a change needed in the tenancy, such as adding or removing a joint tenant.

To summarise: the draft Tenancy Policy sets out the different types of tenancies the Council will offer for the homes it is responsible for and the rules and approaches to managing them.

Related documents

You may wish to have this open whilst considering your response:

Why your views matter

The Tenancy Policy will impact on the Council’s role as a landlord and affect current and future tenants.

Feedback is sought from those that hold a tenancy with West Northamptonshire Council, local tenant and resident groups, registered providers, and other interested parties and stakeholders.

All comments will be considered and will help development of the policy where necessary.

If you have any questions about the consultation, need assistance to complete the online questionnaire or would like a copy of it in another format you can contact us by email at: housingstrategy@westnorthants.gov.uk

This consultation closes midnight Wednesday 27 November 2024.

For information about how responses are managed, please see the housing options and homelessness privacy notice and the consultation and engagement privacy notice.

Interests

  • Consultations
  • Housing