Issue - meetings

This item was chaired by Diana Minns (Vice-Chair Tenant Leaseholder Representative).

Matter for Decision

The report detailed a review of current council voids repair processes which had been undertaken, with a programme of communication with tenants and prospective tenants scheduled from January 2023.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.         Approved the Council’s Void Management Policy and the revised re-let standard, recognising the factors influencing the Policy that has resulted in the prioritised works to be undertaken in the stock whilst vacant.

    ii.         Agreed the revised Cambridge Re-Let Standard and note how the Standard will be communicated to current tenants looking to transfer and those on the Housing Register, via the Council’s website and in the Sign-up pack.

   iii.         Recognised that this Policy will need to be reviewed again within 2 years, as the Government White Paper for Social Housing Regulation was not yet passed as formal legislation at the time of writing this report and we believe this will have implications on this Policy, once in place.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Housing Maintenance and Assets.

The Head of Housing Maintenance and Assets said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Factors which contributed to the increased void management workload included properties earmarked for specific initiatives ie: rough sleeper accommodation which needed to be turned around quickly and properties required for decanting tenants from blocks earmarked for redevelopment, unauthorised alterations by tenants which necessitated remedial works by the council. 

    ii.         Tenancy audits would assist in picking up concerns about property conditions. Sub-contractors had been used to assist in-house officer’s workloads.

   iii.         Tenancy agreements contained a clause requiring tenants to maintain and leave a property in a certain condition. Costs spent by the Council to undertake any remedial works that are considered rechargeable repairs would be added onto a Tenant’s Arrears Account.

  iv.         Statutory provisions were available to gain access to properties when tenants refused access, however this was an un-tested area.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee, the Director of Neighbourhoods and Communities advised that an update report would be brought back to Committee in a years’ time. It was also noted within recommendation 2.3 that the Void Management Policy may need to be updated in any event when legislation arising from the Government’s White Paper for Social Housing Regulation was passed.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.