Issue - meetings

Report of: Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning and Assistant Director, Growth and Economy

Purpose of Report

The purpose of the report is to outline our plans for helping people accommodated in hotels during the pandemic to move on to settled or interim accommodation.

The report also recommends adoption of a policy for Introductory Tenancies for all new tenants housed by the Council. This policy will enable Housing Services to move on a number of homeless households from emergency and temporary accommodation post-pandemic and in the future.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1     note the cost implications of supporting rough sleepers and single homeless people to move on from accommodation provided during the pandemic and to recommend to Council that budget provision be made to cover these costs should alternative funding be unavailable.

1.2     agree that all future tenants of residential Council properties will be offered an Introductory Tenancy, whether constructed pursuant to the Build! scheme or otherwise.

1.3          delegate responsibility to the Assistant Director Growth and Economy to produce and implement the detailed Introductory Tenancies policy and procedure.

Resolved

(1)           That the cost implications of supporting rough sleepers and single homeless people to move on from accommodation provided during the pandemic be noted and Council be recommended to agree  that budget provision be made to cover these costs should alternative funding be unavailable.

(2)           That it be agreed that all future tenants of residential Council properties will be offered an Introductory Tenancy, whether constructed pursuant to the Build! scheme or otherwise.

(3)           That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director Growth and Economy to produce and implement the detailed Introductory Tenancies policy and procedure.

The Assistant Director, Housing and Social Care Commissioning and Assistant Director, Growth and Economy submitted a report to outline the plans for helping people accommodated in hotels during the pandemic to move on to settled or interim accommodation.

The report also recommended the adoption of a policy for Introductory Tenancies for all new tenants housed by the Council. This policy would enable Housing Services to move on a number of homeless households from emergency and temporary accommodation post-pandemic and in the future.

The Chairman and Leader of the Labour Group commended the Housing Team for their ongoing hard work to support rough sleeper, homeless people and those needing support and assistance during the covid-19 pandemic.

Resolved

(1)           That the cost implications of supporting rough sleepers and single homeless people to move on from accommodation provided during the pandemic be noted and Council be recommended to agree  that budget provision be made to cover these costs should alternative funding be unavailable.

(2)           That it be agreed that all future tenants of residential Council properties will be offered an Introductory Tenancy, whether constructed pursuant to the Build! scheme or otherwise.

(3)           That responsibility be delegated to the Assistant Director Growth and Economy to produce and implement the detailed Introductory Tenancies policy and procedure.

Reasons

We expect to make a funding bid to MHCLG for move on support costs but recommend agreeing in principle to fund the necessary move on costs to avoid the risk of rough sleepers returning to the streets.

The use of Introductory Tenancies is common practice within the social housing sector. It allows landlords to monitor the new tenant’s behaviour and offer support if there are issues relating to rent arrears and anti-social behaviour which may impact on the Introductory Tenancy becoming a Secure Tenancy after one year, or 18 months with an extension. The Build team housing management staff provide considerable support to help tenants in their first year with the Council and it is unusual for any action to be taken without exploring many options with external partners such as Connection and Citizens Advice.

It is recommended that Cherwell District Council elect to use this form of tenancy.

Alternative options

If the costs of supporting move on plans are not covered there is a high likelihood of the majority of rough sleepers returning to the streets in July/August 2020.

If a scheme for Introductory Tenancies is not introduced then any tenant offered a tenancy of a Council residential dwelling will potentially enjoy full secure status by default.  Introductory Tenancies will help ensure the Council’s ability to easily end a tenancy as a result of tenant misconduct during the Introductory period is preserved.