Agenda item

The Director of Housing and Projects presented the report which provided an overview of the current workings of South Kesteven District Council’s Tenancy Services Team who played a crucial role in ensuring compliance with tenancy agreements and housing policies whilst ensuring that tenants received the necessary support to sustain their tenancies.  The Tenancy Team’s work included direct tenant engagement, enforcement of tenancy conditions and collaboration with internal and external partners to provide a holistic approach to housing management.

The Team consisted of a Tenancy Services Manager, a Tenancy Services Team Leader, six Housing Officers and three Housing Assistants.  The Council also had two Tenancy Support Officers who provided additional one to one support to tenants who were identified as requiring this level of service.  In addition to this team, the Council also had a Sheltered Housing Team which consisted of a Sheltered Housing Manager, the Sheltered Housing Team Leader, Tow Sheltered Housing Officers and Three Caretakers.

The Council’s housing stock was just below 6,000, with each Housing Officer looking after 1,000 properties each.  The Tenancy Team were responsible for conducting tenancy sign-ups for applicants, succession requests, mutual exchange requests and tenancy fraud investigations.  Table 1 of the report listed the work undertaken and the numbers involved for the period November 2024 to January 2025.  Anti-social behaviour took up a significant amount of time and the Team worked closely with the Police and Lincolnshire Legal Services on often complex anti-social behaviour cases.  Table 2 of the report listed the ABS cases for November 2024 to January 2025.

The Tenancy Team were also responsible for investigating and acting in respect of tenancy breaches which included unauthorised alterations, property misuse and overcrowding.  Table 3 in the report listed the number of legal cases for the period November 2024 to January 2025 which covered Notices to Quit, Community Protection Notice Warnings, Community Protection Notices and Notice of Seeking Possession.

The two Tenancy Support Officers main responsibility was to provide help and support to tenants to sustain their tenancies to enable tenants to remain in their homes.  There were often a range of complex reasons why a tenant maybe struggling with their tenancy and the Officers worked closely with third party agencies including the cost of living team.

Currently the Team had 33 active support cases and there continued to be a significant demand for the service which was why a budget bid for an additional Tenancy Support Officer was submitted and approved at the budget Council meeting in February 2025.

The Sheltered Housing Team were responsible for providing support to the tenants in the 30 sheltered housing schemes across the district which included the completion of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan forms for all tenants as many in the sheltered scheme may struggle to evacuate themselves in an emergency.  The Team also maintained the communal rooms in the schemes ensuring that tenants had access to events in the rooms or access to the space to use it.  The Team was responsible for conducting regular fire alarm tests and they also visited weekly to ensure tenants were safe and supported with regular tenant meetings being held to give residents the opportunity to raise any concerns they had.

A question was raised about the Right to Buy (RTB) numbers and it was stated that following the Government’s announcement in November 2024 regarding the RTB discount there had been an increase in the number of applications, 62 had been received rather than the usual 40.

Members acknowledged the work being done in the “background” and noted the report.