Issue - meetings

Recommendation:

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council:

 2.1 Adopted the Clear Communal Areas Policy to come into effect from xx 2025.

Reasons for decision

3.1 This newly drafted clear and accessible policy provided guidance (including enforcement) on how Haringey Council manages the common areas of its council housing

3.2 The new policy will help the Council meet the Social Housing Regulator’s consumer standards, specifically the Tenancy Standard and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

Alternative options considered

4.1 We could have continued with an out-of-date policy for the Council’s communal areas or not had a policy at all. These options were rejected because it would not meet the Council’s needs or those of its tenants. Introducing this new policy will assist the Council to meet the Social Housing Regulator’s safety and quality standard to take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of tenants in their homes and associated communal areas. This option would also not meet our commitment to introduce updated policies in the Housing Strategy 2024 – 2029 and the Housing Improvement Plan 2023.

The Assistant Director Repairs and Compliance introduced the report and outlined the rationale.

It was noted that the resolution should be amended to take effect from the conclusion of the call in period following agreement of the report.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council:

2.1 Adopted the draft Clear Communal Areas Policy.

Reasons for decision

3.1 This newly drafted clear and accessible policy provided guidance (including enforcement) on how Haringey Council manages the common areas of its council housing

3.2 The new policy will help the Council meet the Social Housing Regulator’s consumer standards, specifically the Tenancy Standard and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

Alternative options considered

4.1 We could have continued with an out-of-date policy for the Council’s communal areas or not had a policy at all. These options were rejected because it would not meet the Council’s needs or those of its tenants. Introducing this new policy will assist the Council to meet the Social Housing Regulator’s safety and quality standard to take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of tenants in their homes and associated communal areas. This option would also not meet our commitment to introduce updated policies in the Housing Strategy 2024 – 2029 and the Housing Improvement Plan 2023.