Housing tenancies consultation

Background

Legally, as a Housing Authority, we must provide a Tenancy Strategy. It details the legal requirements and explains what we and other Registered Providers of social housing need to consider, including:

• the type of tenancies offered
• when different types of tenancy will be offered
• the length of fixed term tenancies

You can read our previous  Tenancy Strategy 2012 (PDF, 395.4kb) .

About the Strategy

The Strategy covers social and affordable rent housing but not non-rental forms of affordable housing or private rental homes. It aims to:

• ensure (wherever possible) that people have the opportunity of a lifetime tenancy so they can remain in their home as long as it is suitable for them
• help people to move from affordable housing once they can access other options
• tackle under-occupation by giving people the opportunity to move to smaller houses if they find themselves in a property that is too big for them
• supporting adaptations to help people stay in their homes
• encourage 'starter' tenancies that will encourage new tenants to follow their tenancy agreement eg rent payments and anti-social behaviour, with the prospect of getting a lifetime tenancy at the end of any 'probationary' period.
• encourage Registered Providers to help people avoid losing their home and becoming homeless

The Strategy sets out a commitment to provide a range of tenancies to meet all housing needs, providing security of tenure and a safety net for people in financial difficulties.

The Strategy also supports wider priorities for the County Durham Vision 2035.

Draft Tenancy Strategy (PDF, 296.7kb)

Have your say

What happens next

We will review all the feedback we receive. The Tenancy Strategy will then go to our Cabinet in 2022. Once finalised it will be published and monitored on a yearly basis.