Liverpool City Council looks set to adopt a new strategy which will guide social housing tenancy policy for the next three years.

It’s hoped the revised framework will limit the number of fixed term tenancies issued across the region.

A report set to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on Friday (6 December) outlines concerns over the effects fixed term tenancies can have on vulnerable residents and community cohesion.

Government reforms to social housing in 2012 included the introduction of fixed term tenancies, which means registered providers can grant tenancies for a limited term, normally five years, but for a minimum of two years.

Under the proposed Liverpool City Region Tenancy Strategy 2016-2019 – which has been recommended for approval – any fixed term tenancies will be granted for a minimum of five years with two-year tenancies only issued in “exceptional circumstances”.

As part of the formulation of the new strategy, a consultation took place with registered providers operating within the city region and found that only four providers had issued fixed term tenancies since 2012 – covering just 63 properties.

The report states: “The proposed Liverpool City Region Tenancy Strategy maintains the presumption in favour of lifetime tenancies.

“Social housing is often located in some of the more deprived parts of the city region, and reducing security of tenure in these areas is likely to impact on the longer term aspiration of creating sustainable communities.”

There are currently over 100 registered social housing providers managing in excess of 150,000 properties within the city region, a number of which operate across local authority boundaries.

The strategy has been produced through collaboration between the Liverpool City Region local authorities and it’s hoped the adoption of a joint tenancy strategy will provide consistent guidance for social housing providers regardless of their area of operation.

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