To approve the tenancy strategy as a guiding document for Registered Providers working across Herefordshire. The tenancy strategy is a statutory document. The Localism Act 2011, sets out provisions for housing tenure reform and places a duty on local authorities to prepare and publish a tenancy strategy, to keep it under review and to modify or replace it from time to time. Our existing tenancy strategy was approved in 2016 as part of the revised housing allocation policy. A new housing allocations scheme was agreed and implemented in 2020, but this did not include a tenancy strategy. A new tenancy policy that reflects current legislation and up to date housing needs data is now required.

That:

a)    That the tenancy strategy at appendix 1 to the report is approved as a guiding document for registered providers working across Herefordshire. 

1.             The Localism Act 2011 requires that all Local authorities have a tenancy strategy in place. The council’s tenancy strategy was last updated in 2016 as part of the housing allocations policy that was subsequently replaced in 2020. The new allocations scheme documentation does not include a tenancy strategy, a new one is therefore needed that reflects changes in legislation and the current affordable housing needs of our community. The Cabinet member housing, regulatory services, and community safety could choose not to approve this tenancy strategy. This is not recommended, as the existing tenancy strategy does not reflect current legislation.

2.             Changes could be made to the draft tenancy strategy and it could be reissued. This is not recommended as the strategy has been through a consultation process with Registered Providers as required by the Localism Act 2011.