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Local lettings policy to help support sustainable communities
Published: 29/10/2015
As a landlord the Council recognises the importance of balancing the needs of
new tenants and the interests of existing tenants and continuously seeks to
respond to local housing issues to help create safe, pleasant neighbourhoods,
where people aspire to live. To further this aim a report seeking approval for
the development of a framework for local letting policies to help tackle local
housing issues is to be considered by the council鈥檚 Community and Enterprise
Overview and Scrutiny committee on Wednesday, 4 November.
The proposed framework aims to:
路 help tackle identified areas of low demand helping to ensure we maximise the
investment in our existing homes
路 maintain the long term sustainability of established and new areas creating
vibrant, healthy and great places to live
路 help support and encourage balanced and cohesive communities where people
choose to live
路 improve community safety by addressing and preventing issues of Anti-Social
Behaviour (ASB) and harassment
路 protect both the interests of local residents and our homes by seeking to
prevent or reverse social decline and deprivation
The degree and extent to which these objectives are applied will vary between
each local letting policy, in recognition of different local housing issues
across the county such as:
路 concentrations of deprivation
路 large new developments where it is felt that a new community needs to be
established
路 supporting tenant employment opportunities through job related moves and
those people who are making a positive contribution to a particular area in an
economic or voluntary capacity
路 the needs and sustainability of rural communities e.g. where affordability of
housing is an issue
路 under-occupation and/ or overcrowding.
Cllr. Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for housing said,
鈥淎 local letting policy would be applied in either a defined geographical area
or on a new build development and would help the council respond to local
housing issues. This would in turn help create sustainable, vibrant and healthy
neighbourhoods balancing the needs of new tenants and the interests of existing
tenants.鈥�
It is proposed that the Council considers the need to implement local lettings
policies for some of the new developments, by starting the process of gathering
the evidence to demonstrate whether or not there is a specific need for a local
letting policy.
Consultation will be carried out in line with the framework and the process for
approval to implement a local lettings policy. This will include consultation
with local Elected Members, residents groups and other Housing Associations.