Chris KnowlesHousing Strategy & Enabling ManagerTonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Alan WhiteProject ManagerKent Homechoice

Guidance to Registered Providers about the use of Affordable Rent & Fixed Term Tenancies

Statutory requirement for every LA to publish one by January 2013

Must have regard to the local:◦ Homelessness strategy & allocations policy◦ Housing strategy

Consultation (before adoption or modifying):◦ Give every Registered Provider a reasonable

opportunity to comment◦ Consult others as prescribed in regulations (none

actually prescribed)

Common Sense!

Presents the factors KHG members think are important to consider in making decisions about tenancy length and Affordable Rent

No ‘one size fits all’ approach

Considers pros and cons from a range of perspectives and for different households

Describes what is needed in order for the impact of local decisions to be managed to contribute to our shared ambitions

Spoke to Senior Officers and Managers in both Local Authorities and Registered Providers to discuss:◦ Local and organisation position◦ Opportunities and threats

Scenario planning workshop◦ Social care & voluntary and community sector◦ Strategic and front-line - drawing on experience◦ 8 scenarios of Affordable Rent/social rent and

fixed term tenancies eg, 5 year Affordable Rent v. lifetime social rent

Clearly advertise AR homes & circumstances where Fixed Term Tenancies are used

Provide clear, easy-to-understand, information about tenancy on offer & length; process of starting and ending a tenancy

Take a consistent, fair and transparent approach to decisions at the point of tenancy review

Communicate decisions not to re-issue a tenancy early, and to other agencies, to ensure that homelessness & other negative outcomes are prevented

Landlords advertising since October 2011

931 homes advertised

725 let so far (13% of all homes)

Dover DC ran 12 week campaign on Kent Homechoice

Allowed Dover housing applicants to comment on draft strategy

Views 11,370, read documents 289, completed survey 47

Minimum length of social tenancy

Who should be given a tenancy for life?

Localism Act 2011 Statutory allocations guidance June 2012 Grant tenancies for a fixed term Support greater tenant mobility More control over who can join waiting lists Flexibility over priorities

Role of Kent Homechoice Promote common housing assessment Develop flexible on-line assessment and

registration Direct customers to policies/plans Access to HomeSwap Direct

The benefits of a County Approach? How to clearly define roles & responsibilities? What circumstances should be taken into

account when considering not to renew a tenancy?

What else should Kent Homechoice do to respond to the legislative changes?

Over to you!