Councillor Simon Martin

Sheltered Housing Later Living Strategy

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To seek Executive approval for the draft Fareham Housing Later Living Strategy to go for six weeks public consultation.   The Later Living Strategy details the renewed approach to Fareham Housing’s sheltered housing service.  The term ‘later living’ replaces the outdated name of ‘sheltered housing’ to remove the old-fashioned connotations that surround it.   The strategy focuses on three priorities based on the building, the service and the route into later living housing.  It identifies the aims and actions, as well as the issues that need to be overcome.   Approval is sought for a six-week period of consultation before the strategy is brought back to the Executive for adoption.   At its meeting on 3 April 2025, the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered the strategy and no comments or suggestions were made.

Recommendations Approved

Fareham Housing Decant Policy - Adoption

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To update the Executive on the outcome of the Fareham Housing Decant Policy and seek approval for adoption.   The Fareham Housing Decant Policy details the legislation and process for when occupants are required to move accommodation in an emergency or to enable repairs, major works and development.  The policy applies to Council tenants, leaseholders, and in rare instances, private residents.   At its meeting on 3 February 2025, the Executive approved the policy for six weeks of public consultation.  This was undertaken from 21 February to 4 April 2025.  This report summarises the outcome of the consultation and details the changes made in response.  

Recommendations Approved

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

Recommendations Approved

The Draft Fareham Housing Tenant Alterations and Improvements Policy - Adoption

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To seek Executive approval for the Draft Fareham Housing Tenant Alterations and Improvements Policy for adoption.   Under section 97 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended, all eligible tenants have the right to make alterations or improvements to their homes.  While tenants must have the permission of the landlord to carry out any such alterations or improvements, the law also stipulates that this permission cannot be ‘unreasonably withheld’.   The draft Fareham Housing Alterations policy provides comprehensive information on the alterations process, background and relevant legislation.  This document updates the information on our website and brings it together in a single policy.   At its meeting on 9 January 2025, the Housing Scrutiny Panel approved the document to go to Executive with changes to the process chart in Appendix C to improve clarity.  Following Executive agreement on 3 February 2025, the draft Tenant Alterations and Improvements policy was circulated for public consultation from 17 February to 31 March 2025.

Recommendations Approved

The Draft Fareham Housing Allocations Policy

From: from 12/05/25, Executive - Tuesday, 20th May, 2025 6.00 pm, - May 20, 2025

To seek Executive approval for the Draft Fareham Housing Allocations Policy to go forward for a period of public consultation.   Under Part VI of the 1996 Housing Act, all Local Authorities must have an allocations policy outlining how priorities are determined and the procedure to be followed when allocating accommodation.   The Draft Fareham Housing Allocations Policy (the Policy) provides comprehensive information regarding eligibility and the allocations process, the background and the relevant legislation.  This includes the most up to date position from Government on the Allocation of Social Housing within England.   An ‘easy read’ version and process chart have also now been produced as part of our compliance with the Transparency, Infludence and Accountability standard set by the Regulator of Social Housing.   This updates the information already outlined on the Council’s webpages.   A period of 6 weeks public consultation will be undertaken on the draft policy before it returns to the Executive for formal adoption.   A period of 6 weeks public a consultation will be undertaken on the draft policy before it returns to Executive for formal adoption.   At its meeting on 3 April 2025, the Housing Scrutiny Panel considered the Policy and a number of comments and suggestions were made.  In the main these were regarding the future impact of the policy on the waiting list and how the Policy compared to other local authorities.  Clarification on these points was provided at the meeting.  Members were also pleased to see a greater focus on inclusion and suggested some minor formatting improvements.  Further details are outlined in the report.    

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