Management of flexible tenancies Andrea Luker, Director of Strategy & Planning Friday 3 March 2017

Agenda Why offer flexible tenancies in Westminster? Who gets what? The review process Impact of flexible tenancies Creating places where people are proud to live

Why introduce flexible tenancies? “it is no longer right that the government should require every social tenancy to be for life” Grant Shapps, Minister for Housing in 2010 Creating places where people are proud to live

The Westminster context

The stock

Social Housing in Westminster 2013 24,000 social housing properties 4,000 on our waiting list 1, 000 available to let each year How long would to clear the waiting list? Studio - 3 years 1 month 1 bed - 2 years 5 months 2 bed - 6 years 8 months 3 bed - 8 years 5 months 4 bed- 12 years 5 months 5+ bed - 9 years 4 months

What do we offer? Tenancy Tenant Secure Existing secure/assured tenants who move home and new tenants over 60 Intro & 5 year flexible Intro & 2 year flexible Most social housing tenants Discretionary successions & worker tenancies 2 year flexible Some discretionary successors On renewal to existing flexible tenants with tenancy breaches plus Creating places where people are proud to live

4 Reasons for not renewing Non-participation in the review Serious & persistent tenancy breach Serious housing related ASB conviction Under occupation (but tenancy renewed at a smaller property & time given to bid) Creating places where people are proud to live

Decisions at a flexible tenancy review Are there breaches & should the tenancy be renewed? What length of tenancy should be offered? Is the property the right size/type? Should the tenancy be renewed at the same or a different address? What rent should we charge? Creating places where people are proud to live

Rent Increases at the Review (2019) Market rents, or 40% of net income, which ever is lower where tenant/spouse/civil partner/partner income is: £66k - up to 2 bed properties £80k - 3 + bed properties Creating places where people are proud to live

The quiet revolution Creating places where people are proud to live

Impact on tenancy management Viewings & sign-ups advising on tenancy types on offer new tenancy agreement service of a notice of flexible tenancy advising on the request for a review of duration Payment by direct debit During the tenancy Dealing with tenancy changes - sole to joint, succession, assignment, exchange Changes to ending the tenancy during the fixed term The review – an opportunity 20-30 per month Changing the nature of the relationship with tenants? Creating places where people are proud to live

Questions? Creating places where people are proud to live