The following email was received today from Camden Council. It is regarding the consultation on the Council’s Tenure Policy.

For over 30 years, social landlords have only been able to offer lifetime tenancies. The law has changed and social landlords can now offer new tenants fixed term tenancies of five years or longer. This change does not affect existing tenants, who will keep their security of tenure even if they move to another social rented home. The law about who should inherit a Council tenancy after a tenant dies has also changed for new tenancies. The law now only gives partners the right to inherit a tenancy.

Camden homes

We asked you if you think the Council should start to offer new tenants fixed term tenancies. We also asked if the Council should allow people other than spouses, civil partners and couples living together as if they are a spouse or civil partner to inherit a Council tenancy after the tenant dies.

While there was some support for fixed term tenancies or for their use in some situations, the most common response was to tell us that you did not want the Council to introduce fixed term tenancies. In addition, more than two thirds of you supported giving people other than partners the right to inherit a tenancy.

The Council has now published a Tenure Policy that does not make use of fixed term tenancies except in rare circumstances where a fixed term tenancy would be of benefit to the new tenant. The Council will continue to issue introductory tenancies for new tenants for a period of one year, after which time they will normally become secure tenancies. The Tenure Policy will allow certain groups of people other than spouses, civil partners and people living together as if they are a spouse or civil partner to either succeed or be allocated a tenancy, although not necessarily the same Council home.

Read our full report on the consultation

Kind regards,

Needs and Resources
Housing and Adult Social Care
London Borough of Camden

Telephone: 020 7974 3245
Web: camden.gov.uk

2nd floor
Bidborough House
38-50 Bidborough Street
London WC1H 9DB