The Chancellor announced in the Summer Budget that the
government will conduct a review of lifetime tenancies.
We learned that proposals may be included in the Housing and
Planning Bill.
The Summer Budget set out a commitment that "The government will
review the use of lifetime tenancies in social housing to limit
their use and ensure households are offered tenancies that match
their needs and ensure the best use is made of social housing"
(Summer Budget para 1.155)
ARCH has learned that although nothing is currently included in
the Housing & Planning Bill as published, DCLG officials have
confirmed that, subject to formal approval to the proposals (i.e.
Cabinet Committee clearance), the intention is to introduce the
proposals into the Bill by amendment at the first
opportunity.
We're still unclear what this means but it's expected that
the Bill will require the compulsory introduction of fixed term
tenancies (so called flexible tenancies) for all new tenants of
social housing. We have no further details at the moment but will
update members if and when any such proposals are brought
forward.