Agenda and minutes

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities - Monday, 10th February, 2020 4.00 pm

Venue: Diamond Room 1 - Council House. View directions

Contact: Usha Patel Governance Services Officer, Tel: 024 7697 2301, Email: usha.patel@coventry.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
12.	Declarations of Interest Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
13.	Minutes PDF 48 KB a) To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December, 2019 b) Matters arising Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 9 December, 2019 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.
14.	Updated Discharge into Private Rented Sector (PRS) Policy PDF 99 KB Report of the Director of Housing and Transformation Additional documents: Appendix 1 - Discharge into PRS policy 2013 updated 2020 , item 14. PDF 133 KB Minutes: The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Housing and Transformation that presented an updated Discharge into Private Rented Sector (PRS) Policy. Following the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Local Authorities have a duty to prevent homelessness for those who are threatened with homelessness and relieve homelessness for those who are homeless. One of the ways authorities can end the prevention and relief duties is with the offer of a suitable 6-month Assured Shorthold Tenancy within the private rented sector. Authorities also owe certain applicants (who are homeless, eligible for assistance, in priority need and not intentionally homeless) the ‘main housing duty’ to secure suitable accommodation. In 2013, the Cabinet Member agreed a policy to discharge the main homeliness duty with an offer of accommodation in the private rented sector providing a tenancy is offered for at least 12 months and the property is suitable. This decision was made following an 8-week consultation and formed part of the Coventry Tenancy Strategy 2013-18, which was approved by Council in January 2013. Since that time the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Service has used the policy to make offers into the Private Rented Sector, especially as demand for social housing continues to outweigh supply. The draft Discharge into Private Rented Sector (PRS) Policy was appended to the report. RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member approves the updated Discharge into Private Rented Sector (PRS) Policy which has been amended in line with technical changes to reflect updates to legislation and the code of guidance.
15.	Outstanding Issues There are no outstanding issues Minutes: There were no outstanding issues.
16.	Any other item of public business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved Minutes: There were no other items of public business.