Kensington and Chelsea plan to bring back lifetime tenancies
A move to give council tenants lifetime tenancies has been welcomed by a residents’
association, which it should give rent payers peace of mind, writes Julia Gregory, Local Democracy reporter.
Kensington and Chelsea council is planning to bring back lifetime tenancies, reversing the authority’s move in 2014 to give new tenants two or five-year flexible tenancies.
That change was implemented after the Government gave councils freedom to offer flexible tenancies in the Localism Act in 2011.
A quarter of the borough’s residents live in social housing, including council homes.
It is one of the most densely occupied areas in the country and property prices are
high, making it hard for people to find affordable homes.
But the council has now decided that resources could be better spent elsewhere rather than carrying out a five-yearly review, which can take up to a day.
Such reviews look at tenant’s personal circumstances and their tenancy history.
“This includes investigating if circumstances have changed and their home is now too big for them, and if it needs adaptations fitted.
The review also looks into whether a tenant’s income has now changed and they can afford to pay a higher rent for their current home, rent privately or buy their own home.
The move to reintroduce lifetime tenancies was welcomed by the chairman of the Pond House Residents’ Association Iain Smith.
He said: “It will lead to long-term stability in their lives and their neighbours’ lives.”
He added that it should end the uncertainty for people who might have worried they might have to move after five years, and would also save the council money.
Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith said: “Knowing that they have a home for life will come as a relief to our tenants and with the extra resources that we will have as a result we hope to improve and strengthen local communities.”
The council took back control of its homes last year from the tenant management
organisation which ran them at the time of the fatal fire at Grenfell Tower.
Since then it has embarked on a root and branch review of housing, including setting up an in-house repairs department.
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