Preparing local authority tenancy strategies

The Localism Bill places a new duty on every local housing authority to publish a tenancy strategy setting out the considerations for individual social landlords regarding their own policies on the granting and reissuing of tenancies relating to: 

• The kinds of tenancies that they grant
• The circumstances in which they will grant a tenancy of a particular kind
• Where they grant tenancies for a fixed term, the length of the term
• The circumstances in which they will grant a further tenancy on the ending of an existing one.

The strategy must be published within 12 months of the enactment of the Bill and local authorities will be required to draw up the strategic policy in consultation with other social landlords, tenants, local voluntary and community organisations.

Whilst this new duty has been met with some scepticism about its timing and how it can support effective partnership working between landlords and local authorities, it does provide an opportunity to consider more widely the impact of fixed-term tenancies and how this impacts within the affordable rent regime.

This course enables local authority officers to consider how they may plan and prepare their strategies. It assists them to think about the evidence base required, the key questions to ask and the consultation requirements. It places it within the context of the affordable rent regime and enables delegates to think through the implications for their authorities. Designed to stimulate debate, the day offers an opportunity for delegates to prepare their outline task plan to take back to their workplace to complete the strategy within an appropriate timeframe.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Local authority housing strategy teams planning to develop tenancy strategies
• Members trying to understand the requirements and the tasks involved for their officers.

Our trainer

Helen Brzozowski has worked in the social housing sector for 14 years. She has been a consultant and trainer for six years and is a director of arc4. Her expertise lies in the development of products and options to support households to access and move into the tenure of their choice. Her work involves developing new products and evaluating their success, including equity purchase models, rent to purchase models and intermediate rented products. She assists housing associations, local authorities and developers to develop delivery mechanisms and models to create viable schemes and introduce a range and mix of tenures to meet local needs.

HQN has a track record of helping organisations achieve real and lasting performance improvements. If you are interested in accessing this training package please contact us by emailing training@hqnetwork.co.uk