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Accommodation
certificates - fitness for human habitation
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The aim of this service is to identify properties
which fail to meet the fitness for habitation or
tolerable standard requirement and determine the most
satisfactory course of action to be taken with that
property.
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Anti
social behaviour and nuisance
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The local authority will provide support and
assistance to local residents who are victims of
harassment, anti-social behaviour and noise and
nuisances and where necessary take appropriate
actions in conjunction with other agencies (police
etc.).
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Communal
heating charges
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Communal heating charges for council properties are
divided among all residents on an estate, the
proportion is added to their rent account.
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Community
safety
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The crime and disorder reduction strategy which
addresses key priorities in relation to crime and
disorder, it also provides information about
priorities and initiatives. Reporting tends to be
done locally and the partnerships aggregate and
anonymise data to support decision making.
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Council
estates - parking
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The local authority is responsible for determining
parking regulations (residents and visitor parking)
on council property and for enforcement of those
regulations.
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Council house
- deeds
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The local authority does not retain the deeds where a
property has been sold under the right to buy scheme
it will be retained by the leaseholders mortgage or
loan lender.
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Council
housing - current garage arrears
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The local authority may decide to automatically
repossess the garage where rent arrears rise to an
unacceptable level or an account is in arrears for
too long.
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Council
housing - current tenancy arrears
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The local authority deals with tenants who are in
rent arrears by arranging mutual repayment of arrears
by instalments. If the arrears continue to rise the
local authority may take the tenant to court.
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Council
housing - evictions
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If a tenant fails to pay rent or breaches any aspects
of their tenancy agreement the local authority has
the right to evict the tenant by applying to the
court to repossess the property.
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Council
housing - home adaptations
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The Council provides adaptations to Council
properties to suit the needs of disabled people or
people with mobility problems. These can include
providing a rail, lever taps, ramp, shower or
stairlift. If the adaptations are non-essential a
tenant has the right to carry out improvements with
permission from the local authority housing
department.
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Council
housing - home insurance
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Local authorities manage and maintain tenants homes
but do not insure tenants personal belongings,
household goods and contents. However, they offer
comprehensive insurance cover for contents which is
exclusively available to its tenants. Tenants are
advised to take out home contents insurance.
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Council
housing - home modernisation
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All Councils have been set a target of raising the
standard of all its properties by the year 2010 by
the Government in England and Wales or by 2015 by the
Scottish Executive in Scotland . Improvements should
include double-glazed windows, replacement kitchens
and bathrooms, updated heating systems.
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Council
housing - improvement strategy
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The Government requires all local housing authorities
to achieve a new 'decent homes' standard by 2010 and
to consult with tenants, leaseholders and other
stakeholders about how best to achieve this and other
wishes for service improvements.
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Council
housing - insurance claims
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Council tenants may make insurance claims against the
council for any damage that the council causes to the
tenants' possessions, or injury to the tenant or
members of their family. This includes damage caused
by contractors working on behalf of the council.
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Council
housing - late tenancy arrears - rents
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When a person leaves a council tenancy they become
known as a 'former or late tenant'. If there are
arrears at the end of the tenancy the Council will
continue to pursue these. The council will discuss
repayment terms with the tenant and could, if payment
is not made, summons the former tenant to Court to
get an Order for payment
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Council
housing - modernisation schemes
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For council owned properties which are particularly
old the council will implement a modernisation scheme
to bring the property up to acceptable standards.
This may involve rewiring, new windows, new doors
etc.
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Council
housing - rents
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Every council tenant must pay rent for their
property. Rent is usually payable weekly and may
include other regular or communal charges associated
with the property. The local authority will help
tenants to claim any available assistance with paying
their rent.
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Council
housing - squatters and unauthorised occupants
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The local authority deals with squatters and
unauthorised occupants in council property and will
take action against a person who is squatting or who
has unauthorised occupants in empty properties.
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Council
housing - tenancy issues
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As well as officers taking repair reports, collecting
rents and other payments, managing rent arrears and
dealing with breaches of the tenancy agreement; local
estate staff can also help and advise on a number of
other issues including moving, adaptations and
multiple tenancies
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Council
lettings - garages
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Garages may be available for rent to council tenants,
leaseholders and private tenants and a waiting list
is usually maintained for these. The authority will
process applications and issue rental agreements
which usually include restrictions on the use of the
garage.
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Council
tenants - advice and support
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A local authority will provide existing tenants with
advice and assistance on matters such as rents,
transfers, mutual exchanges and general matters
relating to tenancy. This may also include advocacy
where necessary.
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Crime -
support and assistance
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The local authority provides support and assistance
to tenants who are victims of a crime such as
homophobic crime, racist crime, or general crime
committed in their home or whilst in the vicinity of
their home. Where the council are unable to resolve
the problem they may offer the tenant the chance of
being re-housed in a different area.
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Disabled
people - home adaptations and aids
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If a client is visually impaired, hard of hearing or
has other disabilities for which he/she may need
special equipment or adaptations to his/her home the
local authority will provide such equipment which
will assist in overcoming difficulties subject to an
assessment of personal needs to determine
eligibility.
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Empty
residential properties
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Empty residential properties are a target for
squatters, vandals and burglars. They could be used
to provide homes for the many people who need one.
Councils will act on reports of empty properties and
may provide grants for renovation and/or rental
schemes to encourage owners to make use of empty
properties.
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Garden
maintenance
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Garden maintenance for elderly (aged 60 or over) or
disabled tenants who are not capable of doing the
work themselves.
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Home
exchange
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This service provides lists of tenants wishing to
move, either within the area or to other areas.
Existing tenants can exchange their home with another
tenant provided the landlord agrees the mutual
exchange.
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Home
improvements - home repair assistance grant
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The repair assistance grant scheme provides financial
assistance towards the cost of materials required to
carry out repairs, improvements or adaptations to
rented council property.
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Home
improvements - renovation grants
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The house renovation grants scheme provides council
tenants with financial assistance towards the cost of
home improvements.
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Home
improvements - temporary accommodation
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Provision of temporary accommodation to tenants who
are being disturbed by major works carried out in
their own or neighbouring properties.
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Home
ownership service - right to buy
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The right to buy scheme allows a secure tenant who
has held a local authority tenancy for two years to
purchase their property at a discounted price.
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Home
purchase grants
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Under the home move purchase scheme the local
authority will pay a tenant a grant to help them buy
their new home. The tenant must give up their
property to be eligible for this scheme.
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Homelessness -
advice and support
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This service provides information and advice about
housing to people who are homeless or at risk of
becoming homeless. They may be offered temporary
accommodation or permanent home.
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Housing -
alterations by tenants
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A tenant who wishes to carry out improvements and
alterations to their local authority property must
request permission from the local authority.
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Housing -
clearance and re-housing
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Where a property is unfit to live in the LA may
decide to demolish it and redevelop the site (which
may mean the clearance of neighbouring property). The
council will usually offer the owners the market
value of the property and repay expenses associated
with moving plus possible compensation. Where the
property is rented tenants will be given priority for
re-housing in a council property.
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Housing
- community safety
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The council work with tenants to ensure the safety of
all council housing estates. They will address issues
of nuisance and harassment and ensure all areas are
well lit and secured (entry doors etc.).
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Housing -
improvement and repairs loans
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Local authorities may provide financial assistance
(in the form of a mortgage or secured loan) to
existing or prospective homeowners to enable them to
carry out improvements and repairs on their property.
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Housing -
information and advice
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Advice to tenants and landlords in the private sector
on housing related matters such as tenancies, welfare
benefits, rent, repairs etc.
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Housing -
mediation
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The council provides a mediation service to help
resolve disputes between neighbours or between
citizens and the council.
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Housing -
support to tenants
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The aim of the service is to provide support to new
tenants. A support worker will be assigned to each
individual who will work towards helping the tenant
to live independently.
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Housing
Advice and Housing Options Service
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Housing
allocations - allocated council homes
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The local authority will allocate vacant properties
according to priority on the housing register and
suitability for the available property. New tenants
will be required to sign a tenancy agreement prior to
occupation of a property.
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Housing
allocations - allocation system
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The local authority or Registered Social Landlord
uses a housing point system as a guide to priority
when allocating housing. The points system reflects
the current situation or condition in which an
applicant lives.
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Housing
allocations - change of tenancy
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Dealing with requests to change the terms of a
tenancy for existing tenants. This covers transfer of
tenancies, requests for joint tenancy, succession to
tenancy.
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Housing
allocations - furnished tenancies
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This scheme provides a specified range of furniture
and appliances up to a certain value when a tenant
moves into their property. They sign an agreement to
pay over a fixed period of time. This is subject to
eligibility.
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Housing
allocations - hard to let properties
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A low demand or 'hard to let' property is a property
where one or more of the following symptoms are
exhibited: a small or non-existent waiting list for
the property; tenancy offers on a property frequently
refused for reasons other than personal reasons;
higher than normal rates of tenancy turnover for a
property in an area. Many initiatives used by
councils and Registered Social Landlords to let low
demand properties are based on making the property
more attractive to the potential tenant. This
includes offering incentives such as a rent-free
period if the tenancy is accepted; offering a
decoration, furniture or white goods allowance; or
offering a garden tidy.
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Housing
allocations - information and advice
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The local authority is responsible for providing
information and support for local citizens on the
process of applying for council accommodation. This
may include publication of the housing register,
information on allocation priorities, advice on how
to apply etc.
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Housing
allocations - registering for a property
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The local authority processes applications to go on
the housing register and allocates points to
prospective tenants according to their current
circumstances. The criteria under which an authority
are likely to accept/reject applications to go on the
register are published together with information on
the application procedure.
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Housing
allocations - rehousing decision appeal
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An applicant who has been refused a place on the
housing register, who is unhappy with their
allocation of housing points or who has been
suspended from the waiting list can ask the local
authority to review their decision. The authority
should publish details of their appeals procedure.
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Housing
and Council Tax Benefit Overpayments
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The local authority has a duty to recover
overpayments of benefit for which there was no
entitlement from tenants and landlords and where
necessary take criminal proceedings in respect of
fraudulent overpayments.
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Housing
and Council Tax Benefit appeals
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Anyone who has claimed housing benefit and disagrees
with the decision made in their assessment can
challenge the decision by submitting an appeals form
within one month of the date of the original
decision. The authority is responsible for advising
claimants of appeal procedures and investigating each
appeal.
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Housing
applications
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Housing
benefit - backdated claims
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A claimant may be eligible for their claim for
housing benefit to be backdated (by up to 52 weeks)
if there is a good cause why they were unable to
apply for their housing benefit earlier. The
authority is responsible for advising residents about
eligibility for backdating claims and for processing
applications.
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Housing
benefit - change of circumstances
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Review of housing benefit for an existing client
usually as a result of a change of circumstances (new
job, change of address etc.)
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Housing
benefit - new claim
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Processing of a new claim for housing benefit from
both council and private tenants. Claims require
evidence of tenancy and income in order to assess
eligibility for benefit.
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Housing
benefit - renewal
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Housing benefit is generally paid for a maximum of 60
weeks (5 years if the claimant is over 60). The local
authority is responsible for issuing the claimant
with a renewal form approximately 8 weeks before the
current benefit period is due to end and for
assessing the eligibility of the claimant to continue
to receive housing benefit.
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Housing
register
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Housing
repairs - communal areas
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The local authority deals with repairs to communal
areas within council accommodation such as communal
lighting in a block of flats, or the communal
drainpipes to a block of garages.
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Housing
repairs - council property
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The council are generally responsible for structural
repairs to council property, for repairs to essential
supplies (water, gas, electricity etc.) or any
repairs where they may be a risk to health or safety.
Where the damage has been caused by the resident they
may be asked to pay for the repairs.
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Housing
repairs - decoration and disturbance allowances
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A new or existing tenant may be eligible for a
decoration or disturbance allowance where the council
need to carry out major repairs or redecoration work
to a property whilst the tenant is still living
there.
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Housing
repairs - emergency out of hours repairs
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The local authority operates an emergency repair
service to deal with essential repairs outside of
normal working hours where there may be risk to
tenants, the public or the environment if the repairs
are not carried out immediately or where the property
may not be secured.
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Housing
repairs - overdue repairs - discretionary
allowance
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Provision of a discretionary allowance to tenants
where it has not been possible to carry out essential
repairs to their home or to communal areas around
their home within a reasonable or agreed timeframe.
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Housing
repairs - rechargeable repairs
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Where a property requires repair as the result of
damage or negligence caused by the tenant the local
authority will charge for the cost of work to rectify
the problem.
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Introductory
council tenancies
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A new tenancy in local authority property does not
generally become secure until 12 months after it
starts. If at any time before this 12 month period
ends the tenant misbehaves the local authority can
initiate proceedings to evict the tenant. In Scotland
a Scottish short secure tenancy is a short term or
probationary tenancy agreement which can be given to
tenants by a council, housing association or housing
co-op. SSSTs are offered: for lets for a trial
period, after which your tenancy may be upgraded to a
Scottish secure tenancy, or for temporary lets.
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Leaseholders
- information and advice
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Lighting -
council communal flats
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The local authority is responsible for repairs to
communal areas in blocks of flats including stairs,
door entry systems, communal lighting, landings,
communal windows, courtyards and sheds.
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Private
property compulsory acquisition
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The council can be granted the power to buy or take
rights over private property if it falls within a
public or private construction project such as
housing regeneration or a redevelopment area /
project. Prior to issue of CPOs there should be a
consultation and may be a public enquiry.
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Private
property voluntary acquisition
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Where private property if falls within a public or
private construction project such as housing
regeneration or a redevelopment area / project the
council may come to an agreement with the property
owner regarding the purchase of the property before
considering the issue of a Compulsory Purchase Order.
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Property
demolition - council tenants alternative housing
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Where the demolition of nearby property may pose a
risk to tenants in council property the authority may
offer the tenant alternative housing either
temporarily or on a permanent basis.
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Property
demolition - council tenants disturbance
allowance
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Where the demolition of nearby property causes
disturbance to tenants in council property the
authority may pay a disturbance allowance in
compensation for the disruption while the demolition
work is taking place.
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Property
demolition - council tenants reibilities
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The tenant is responsible for arranging for meter
reading and disconnecting of supplies of
gas/electricity and for handing in the keys of
vacated property. The council provide advice and
support in these circumstances.
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Referrals to
other housing organisations
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The council may refer tenants to Registered Social
Landlords (housing associations) within the council
area or to the housing division of another LA where a
move to another area is a possibility. RSLs will
normally operate a scheme with the council whereby a
proportion of their property is set aside for people
on the council's housing waiting list.
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Rent
setting
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The local authority is responsible for setting the
level of rent based on how much it needs to spend on
services for its tenants. Rents should be published
giving reasonable notice of any changes (usually at
least one month).
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Renting to
the council
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Services and
communal repairs
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When a council property has been purchased in a
leasehold agreement by the tenant the local authority
remains responsible for carrying out repairs and
maintenance in communal areas and structural and
exterior repairs. The leaseholder is expected to
contribute a share of the cost.
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Sheltered
housing - council tenants
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Accommodation in sheltered housing is unfurnished
properties specially designed or adapted for elderly
people. Current council tenants may be eligible for
sheltered housing according to age and needs. The
council carry out an assessment of applicants and
maintain a waiting list until suitable properties
become available.
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Sheltered
housing - homeless
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Homeless people who fit eligibility criteria (age and
needs) for council run sheltered accommodation can
apply for a place and will be assessed for
suitability. Where they do not fit eligibility for
sheltered accommodation they will be considered for
other council run housing in the standard way.
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Social
housing policy
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The needs, resources, options and priorities for
housing in the borough
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Surveying -
major repairs
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The local authority is under a duty to gain access to
properties to undertake surveys for number of reasons
such as major repairs and to carry out specialist
surveys.
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Tenant
participation
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Tenant participation is the full involvement of
tenants in how their homes and estates are managed,
with the aim of improving housing services and
improving the quality of life in local communities.
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