Showing posts with label tenancies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tenancies. Show all posts

Thursday 18 June 2020

Good news as Brent Council ends fixed-term tenancies & sets out expectations of all landlords in the borough

From Brent Council

Brent’s Cabinet has approved a new approach to tenancies across the Borough. The Tenancy Strategy clearly sets out expectations of all landlords, including private landlords: and the Tenancy Management Policy reaffirms the council’s commitments to its own tenants.

The council’s aim is to make sure that all Brent residents who are renting have a guaranteed level of security in their home. The council also pledges to support Brent residents to stay in their homes for as long as is suitable for them and will continue to work actively to prevent homelessness.

The main changes to the way the council manages its own tenancies are:
  • Ending of fixed-term tenancies, and replacing them with life-time tenancies
  • Introducing demoted tenancies to tackle anti-social behaviour where necessary
  • Offering joint tenancies to cohabiting couples so that both people are protected
Both the overall Tenancy Strategy and council-specific Tenancy Management Policy were agreed in consultation with existing council tenants and Brent residents in temporary accommodation.

Whilst by far the majority of tenancies work well, there are unfortunately occasions when things break down. If a council tenant has been involved in antisocial behaviour or, is using their home unlawfully, the council can now serve a four-week notice of its intention to seek to demote the tenancy for 12 months.

Brent will work closely with all social housing and private landlords in the borough to encourage them to review the way they manage their tenancies so that all renters can feel secure, whoever their landlord.

Councillor Eleanor Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform said:
The Covid19 pandemic has reminded all of us how important it is to have a safe and secure place to call home. I want everyone who moves into a council home to feel settled and part of their local community so that they can start building happy memories, without worrying. A secure tenancy for as long as someone needs and providing accessible and clear information about what to expect are a core part of our promise. I very much hope that all landlords across the Borough will adopt these changes.

Thursday 11 September 2014

Our West Hendon takes on pan-London gentrification this Saturday

Readers will remember Save The Welsh Harp, the campaign to stop Barratts building tower bocks on the banks of the Welsh Harp which had been occupied by the West Hendon Social Housing Estate. LINK

Barnet Coucil and Boris Johnson approved the scheme despite widespread oppositon and now tenants are being forced out.

This message is from Our West Hendon:

Our West Hendon are running out of time. Non-secure tenants are rapidly being forced out of their communities and Barratts has refused to negotiate 'like for like' settlements with the leaseholders.

Private tenants face yet another move and secure tenants are reluctantly due to be moved into the new but massively inferior builds. It appears the only way to deal with the council and the developers is now to take direct action. Please join us in solidarity this Saturday 13th from 7am-1pm at Marsh Drive Community Centre NW9 7QE.

We know the only way to stop this pan-London gentrification is if all affected communities now come together. Alone we are few, together we are many!