Tenancy policy

1.1 The overriding aim of our Tenancy Policy is to meet the tenure needs of those people who require housing and to ensure that customers have the right home for as long as they need it.

1.2 Ensuring sustainability of neighbourhoods across County Durham and the areas in which we operate is one of our priorities.
This policy also sets out our commitment to meeting the Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenancy Standard and the required outcomes in relation to tenure:
Registered providers shall offer tenancies or terms of occupation which are compatible with the purpose of the accommodation, the needs of individual households, the sustainability of the community and the efficient use of their housing stock
They shall meet all applicable statutory and legal requirements in relation to the form and use of tenancy agreements or terms of occupation.

1.3 The Tenancy Policy is supported by a detailed Tenancy Management Policy, which covers the circumstances in which we will use our discretion to grant a new tenancy.

2.1 We aim to provide a framework whereby customers will receive a tenancy suitable to their housing need and circumstances and ensures that they can access affordable housing without experiencing barriers to achieving broader life aspirations. Customers will receive advice and assistance to access the range of tenancies on offer to ensure they have the right home at the right time.

2.2 Our priorities are to:
• Make the best use of the available housing stock, including reducing overcrowding, tackling under-occupation, making best use of adapted housing for those with a disability.
• Support the development of balanced and sustainable communities across the areas within which we work.
• Provide and maintain homes to the believe housing Standard.
• Enable customers to make informed choices about where they live by making more flexible options available.
• Provide support to older and vulnerable customers to ensure fair access to our housing, to provide information about suitable housing options and to sustain tenancies via in house staff and external partners.
• Encourage customers’ long-term housing aspirations by developing options for home ownership.

3.1 We are strongly committed to providing the most secure tenancies available to our tenants.

3.2 We will, where relevant, offer tenancies which comply with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenancy Standard and which “are compatible with the purpose of the housing, the needs of individual households, the sustainability of the community and the efficient use of its stock.”

3.3 We also aim to ensure that customers understand the different types of tenancy that we use, why we offer different types of tenancy and what this means in terms of the rights and responsibilities set out in our tenancy agreements.

3.4 We use weekly periodic assured tenancies for Social and Affordable Rent properties, with initial probationary periods as appropriate and allowable by law. We only use flexible tenancies in exceptional circumstances. This position may be reviewed if the legal, statutory, operational, or strategic environment changes.