Decision details

The Cabinet Member:

1.    Approved the Affordable Warmth Strategy 2021 - 2025

2.    Approved the Housing Renewals Policy 2021 - 2024

The Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England & Wales) (Order 2002) gives local authorities the power to provide assistance to any person for the purpose of improving living conditions in the local authority area. In order to do so, they must have adopted a policy for the provision of assistance and given publicity to the policy and act in accordance with it. 

There is a statutory duty on all local authorities to provide Mandatory Disabled Facility Grants to provide adaptations where a specific need has been identified.

The Housing Act 2004 places a statutory duty on local authorities to remedy Category 1 (the most serious) hazards in property, identified through the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS), to an acceptable level.  This can be through financial assistance or through enforcement action

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2019 introduced a minimum energy efficiency standard for the private rented sector.  Since 01 April 2018, landlords of relevant domestic private rented properties must not grant a tenancy to new or existing tenants if their property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)  rating of F or G.  Since April 2020, landlords must not continue letting a relevant domestic property which is already let if that property has an EPC rating F or G (as shown on a valid EPC for the property). Landlords were encouraged to take action to ensure that their properties reached EPC E by the deadline of 01 April 2020. Where a property is sub-standard, landlords must normally make energy efficiency improvements which raise the EPC rate to minimum E before they let the property. Landlords may claim an exemption in certain circumstances. 

Not have a Housing Renewals Policy – rejected.  The requirement for a Policy under the Regulatory Reform Order 2002 is detailed in 7.1 above

None.

None.