Tenancy Strategy consultation

Share Tenancy Strategy consultation on Facebook Share Tenancy Strategy consultation on Twitter Share Tenancy Strategy consultation on Linkedin Email Tenancy Strategy consultation link

This consultation has  now concluded

Overview

The draft Tenancy Strategy sets out the council’s approach to issuing and managing tenancies.

The main change made to the Tenancy Strategy is to discontinue granting flexible tenancies to new council tenants, and instead to offer secure periodic tenancies.

The new strategy seeks to:

  • have clear aims on the granting of tenancies and the affordability of social rented housing in the borough.
  • set clear expectations of all social housing providers in tenancy related matters including succession and discretionary tenancies.
  • continue to grant lifetime tenancies for transferring tenants.
  • continue to grant probationary or introductory tenancies for new tenants. Under the

Overview

The draft Tenancy Strategy sets out the council’s approach to issuing and managing tenancies.

The main change made to the Tenancy Strategy is to discontinue granting flexible tenancies to new council tenants, and instead to offer secure periodic tenancies.

The new strategy seeks to:

  • have clear aims on the granting of tenancies and the affordability of social rented housing in the borough.
  • set clear expectations of all social housing providers in tenancy related matters including succession and discretionary tenancies.
  • continue to grant lifetime tenancies for transferring tenants.
  • continue to grant probationary or introductory tenancies for new tenants. Under the new strategy these will convert to a lifetime tenancy after 12 months provided the tenancy conditions have been met.
  • discontinue granting flexible tenancies.
  • provide support for new and existing tenants to assist with tenancy sustainment.


What we are seeking your views on

Councils are required to undertake formal consultation when proposing to introduce a new Tenancy Strategy.

We are keen to give everyone who lives in Barnet the opportunity to have their say. We want to hear your views on the proposed strategy, and in particular we want to hear from existing flexible tenants of the council.

We are also contacting other interested parties who work with the council to provide social housing in the borough or provide assistance and advice to residents of the borough.

Your feedback will help us introduce a strategy where those who are allocated social housing see their homes as genuine places to settle, have control over their lives and homes, and are able to thrive as individuals.


How to have your say

Please take the time to read the draft strategy before completing our online questionnaire.

To request a printed copy of the questionnaire or an alternative format, please email: housingstrategy@barnet.gov.uk or telephone: 020 8359 3608. Alternatively, you can write to us at: Housing and Growth, London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London, NW9 4EW.


To take part in another Housing-related strategy consultation please click on the homepage here.

This consultation has  now concluded

  • We asked, you said, we did

    Share We asked, you said, we did on Facebook Share We asked, you said, we did on Twitter Share We asked, you said, we did on Linkedin Email We asked, you said, we did link

    We asked

    We asked for your views on the proposed Tenancy Strategy which deals with:

    • the types of tenancies that the council and registered providers will grant
    • the circumstances under which different types of tenancies will be granted
    • where they elect to grant fixed-term tenancies, the length of the fixed term
    • the circumstances in which they will grant a further tenancy when the fixed term expires.


    You said

    We received 177 responses to the online questionnaire. 92.5% of respondents were satisfied with the proposals in the Strategy. In particular, you welcomed the proposal to discontinue use of flexible tenancies saying that this would give many ‘greater peace of mind’. Notwithstanding this significant support you were concerned at the continued use of introductory tenancies.

    We did

    The proposals in the Tenancy Strategy were approved by the council’s Cabinet on 18 July 2023. We will be introducing the various proposals over coming months. We will review the use of introductory tenancies in light of proposed government legislation which affects the use of such tenancies.