Our housing strategy, tenancy strategy and homelessness strategy are all important to Westminster City Council
1. Private Rented Sector Strategy consultation
Our consultation period has now closed. Thank you to all those who responded to the council’s draft Private Rented Sector Strategy.
Read the draft private rented sector strategy for Westminster City Council 2020-24 (PDF, 2.22MB)
Next steps
Read a summary of the consultation responses (PDF, 619KB). We will use the responses to inform the final strategy and to develop an action plan, showing how we will deliver our objectives. We plan to publish the complete private rented sector strategy in early 2021.
2. Homelessness Strategy
Our Homelessness Strategy 2019 – 2024 sets out a ten point plan to tackle and respond to homelessness in the city. It aims to:
- prevent more people from becoming homeless in the first place
- improve our services and response when people do become homeless
- meet the challenges ahead and have a homelessness system fit for the future
To develop the strategy, we carried out a review of homelessness and consulted on a draft. More information on the consultation can be found here.
The Strategy is also accompanied by an action plan.
Our strategy does not cover rough sleeping as it is a specific problem which requires its own strategy (see the Rough Sleeping Strategy) and response.
You can also view the draft Homelessness Strategy and the review at:
Westminster City Hall
64 Victoria Street
London, SW1E 6QP
Between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
and
The Housing Solutions Service
82 Bruckner Street
London, W10 4EY
Between 10 am to 4pm Monday to Friday
3. 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 council’s general approach to tenancy management and housing fraud.
For any further information about the Tenancy Policy Write to Policy, Performance and Communications team, 19th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
4. 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, write to Policy, Performance and Communications Team, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
5. Rough Sleeping Strategy
At Westminster City Council, we are working closely with our prevention team and partner organisations to help those who are sleeping rough get off the streets and into accommodation. Click on the link to find out about our Rough Sleeping Strategy 2017-2022.
Cabinet Member Decision Report Rough Sleeping Strategy 2017-22
Equality impact assessment tool
Click on the link to find out how you can help someone sleeping rough.
6. 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 write to Policy, Performance and Communications team, 19th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
Call 020 7641 2789.
7. Tenancy Strategy
The council has published a Tenancy Strategy (PDF, 315KB) setting out its approach to fixed term tenancies. 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 write to Policy, Performance and Communications team, 19th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP.
8. Policy for Tenants in Housing Renewal Areas
The policy sets out the rehousing rights and options for council tenants that need to move due to housing renewal. It also sets out what other tenants in housing renewal areas can expect.
A summary of the policy can be found here.
For further information, contact Dermot Moloney, Senior Regeneration Manager at dmoloney@westminster.gov.uk.
9. Allocations scheme
We publish our policies for assessing housing priority and allocating social housing in our Housing Allocation Scheme.
Housing Allocation Scheme March 2020 (PDF, 1MB)
Due to Covid-19 and in accordance with government guidance a different approach to letting social housing was taken between May 2020 and 24 August 2020. Read the full details of how people were allocated homes during this period in our Interim Allocation of Housing Statement (PDF, 216KB). This statement was updated on 20 July 2020. A previously updated version of the housing statement (PDF, 203KB) was shared on 13 July 2020. The original version of the housing statement (PDF, 201KB) came into effect on 18 May 2020.
From 5 October 2020, for a temporary period, employment points will no longer be removed from applicants if they lose their jobs or have their hours reduced due to Covid-19. You can read more about this in the employment amendment to the housing allocation scheme. This approach will be reviewed after six months.
Visit Westminster Employment Service web pages for more information on how we can provide support into employment, training or volunteering.
Supply and allocation reports
This annual report reviews the supply and demand for social rented housing and low-cost home ownership for the last financial year and forthcoming year. It also makes proposals for policy developments.
Supply and Allocation Report 2018/2019 (PDF, 1MB)
Location of temporary accommodation
The GIS map below shows the location of all Westminster City Council’s temporary accommodation in March 2015.
Cabinet Member for housing
The Cabinet Member for Housing is Councillor David Harvey.
Implementation of housing policy
The Housing Solutions Service is provided by Places for People.
Housing allocation documents
10. Homelessness policies
There are 3 homelessness policies:
- Accommodation Placement Policy - this sets out how homeless households will be prioritised for private accommodation in different areas
- Accommodation Procurement Policy for Homeless Households - this sets out the principles that will be followed when the council is procuring private accommodation for homeless households. It’s Action Plan is updated annually through the Supply and Allocation reports
- Private Rented Sector Offers Policy - this sets out that private rented sector offers may be made to homeless households
More information about the policies can be found on the committee papers webpage.