Our housing strategy, tenancy strategy and homelessness strategy are all important to Westminster City Council.
1. Tenancy Policy
The council’s Tenancy Policy sets out its approach to flexible tenancies (brought in by the Localism Act 2011) in its own housing stock. The policy follows the principles of the Tenancy Strategy (which is a guide to all social housing with stock in Westminster in their approach to fixed term tenure).
The Tenancy Policy also sets out the City Council’s general approach to tenancy management and housing fraud.
For any further information about the Tenancy Policy contact Cecily Herdman.
Write to Policy, Performance and Communications team, 19th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
Email cherdman@westminster.gov.uk.
2. Leaseholder policy for Housing Renewal Areas
The updated Policy 2018, sets out the financial compensation and rehousing options for leaseholders where the council wants to acquire their properties in order for housing renewal to go ahead. A summary of the Policy can be found here.
The new Policy replaces the one originally published in 2014.
To find out more about the policy, contact Cecily Herdman.
Write to Policy, Performance and Communications Team, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
3. Policy for Tenants in Housing Renewal Areas
The council has now concluded its consultation on a new Policy for Tenants in Housing Renewal Areas. The proposed policy sets out the rehousing offer, financial compensation and general support for council tenants where there is a need to acquire their homes to enable regeneration in an area. It also covers the support and help available for other tenants in housing renewal areas (such as private tenants and homeless tenants in temporary accommodation).
A summary of the Policy and the proposed changes can be found here. The full Policy is available through this link. The current Policy, agreed in 2015, can be found here.
4. Housing Strategy
Housing Strategy 2015 - direction of travel statement
Draft Housing Strategy 2015
Draft Housing Strategy summary 2015
Westminster Housing Market Analysis Final report
Westminster Housing Market Analysis Summary report
LHMS Ecorys report
Housing Strategy press release
The council’s Housing Strategy - direction of travel statement sets out the general direction the council wants to go in with regard to housing. It also summarises responses received to the housing strategy consultation in summer 2015. A full housing strategy will be published once the impact of national housing policy changes on the council’s housing plans are clearer. You can also read a fuller summary of responses to the consultation.
For any further information about the statement contact Cecily Herdman.
Write to Policy, Performance and Communications team, 19th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
5. Tenancy Strategy
The council has published a Tenancy Strategy setting out its approach to fixed term tenure and rent increases for higher earning social housing tenants. In line with the Localism Act 2011, all social landlords in Westminster are expected to have regard to the strategy when developing or updating policies for their own housing stock.
For any further information about the strategy contact Cecily Herdman.
Write to Policy, Performance and Communications team, 19th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
Email cherdman@westminster.gov.uk.
6. Affordable Rent Statement
In September 2011, the council developed an interim Affordable Rent Statement setting out the rent levels it supports. The statement is expected to guide Private Registered Providers (Housing Associations) when they are setting their rent levels.
The statement will be regularly reviewed and will be incorporated into the City Council’s Tenancy Strategy in 2012.
For more information about the Affordable Rent Statement contact Fergus Coleman, Housing Association Supply Manager.
Call 020 7641 2129.
7. Homelessness Strategy
Westminster first published a Homelessness Strategy in 2003. This was updated in 2004 and 2008. The strategy sets out how the council manages and responds to homelessness within the city. Click on the links below to view the main document and the two updates.
Homelessness Strategy 2003 - 2008
Homelessness Strategy update 2004 / 05
Homelessness Strategy update 2008 / 10
8. Tenant decant policy
The policy sets out the rehousing options for secure tenants where they are affected by housing renewal.
View the policy
For further information, contact Dermot Moloney, Senior Regeneration Manager.
Call 020 7641 2595 or email dmoloney@westminster.gov.uk.