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The Council's social housing policy

Last updated 29 May 2013

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The needs, resources, options priorities for housing in the borough.

Waltham Forest's Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy

The Government, through the Localism Act 2011, enables the Council as a landlord and other social housing providers (Registered Providers) to make choices about how they manage social housing.  As part of this, Registered Providers may choose to introduce different types of tenancy agreement for new tenants that last for fixed periods of time (existing tenancies are protected). All Registered Providers (RPs), including local authorities, must produce a tenancy policy which explains:
  • The kind of tenancies they will grant
  • The circumstances in which they will do this
  • The length of tenancy terms and, if they choose to use two year tenancies, what the exceptional circumstances are for these
  • The circumstances in which a further tenancy will be granted
Apart from a very few exceptions, Waltham Forest Council has decided to continue to offer lifetime tenancies.  As well as producing its own tenancy policy, the Council has to publish a Tenancy Strategy for the borough which must describe the high level objectives that all RPs should have regard to in their tenancy policies. 
 
Download Waltham Forest’s Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy
 
Contact details to find out about the tenancy policy of other housing providers 

Strategic Housing Market and Needs Assessment

In July 2011, the Council commissioned a new Strategic Housing Market and Needs Assessment (SHMNA) to provide an evidence base for the borough’s strategic approach to housing.  The SHMNA is based on the analysis of 1,700 interviews conducted with local households from July to August 2011 as well as secondary data from the UK Census, Homes and Communities Agency, HM Land Registry, Office for National Statistics and a range of other sources along with a consultation programme with a wide range of stakeholders.

Download the full Strategic Housing Market and Needs Assessment

Download the Executive Summary

Affordable rent guidance

Under the HCA Affordable Homes Framework 2011 – 15, Registered Providers (Housing Associations) have the ability to charge up to 80% of market rent on new homes and under fixed term flexible tenancies. The Council has worked with East London Housing Partnership and POD consultants to understand the impact of increased rents on the affordability of homes for residents in the borough.

Based upon the research, the Council produced guidance setting out the maximum levels of rent that should be charged on Affordable Rented homes. The guidance was approved by the Council's Cabinet in May 2011 and subsequently updated in August 2011.

Download the Affordable Rent Guidance (39KB PDF file)

Development viability guidance

In accordance with national, regional and local planning guidance, the Council is required to secure from all qualifying developments the maximum contribution towards provision of affordable housing consistent with the viability of the proposed scheme.

In instances where schemes are unable to meet policy requirements due to their limited viability, the Council has prepared guidance for applicants to prove their assessment of viability and any supporting assumptions which might be used to further this argument. These guidelines set out the supporting information that is required for any assessment of viability and the process that the Council will undertake on receipt of this.

Download the Development Viability Guidance (26KB PDF file)

Waltham Forest Housing Strategy: 2008-2028

Our 2008-2028 Housing Strategy is a critical element in creating and maintaining sustainable communities and enabling them to succeed.

Waltham Forest Housing Strategy: 2008-2028

Right to Buy

The Government is reinvigorating the Right to Buy scheme by increasing the maximum discount cap for tenants to £75,000. This change came into effect on 2 April 2012. No changes have been made to the eligibility criteria - tenants must have spent five years as public sector tenants in England.

Find out more on the Communities and Local Government website

If you are a Waltham Forest Council tenant and are interested in the Right to Buy scheme, please contact Ascham Homes on 020 8496 4197.

Empty Property Strategy

Aimed at reducing the number of long-term empty properties, and increasing the supply of affordable, decent housing

Empty Property Strategy

Home Energy Conservation Act 1995

The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) required every UK local authority with housing responsibilities to produce an energy conservation report that identifies practicable and cost-effective ways of improving the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their area; and to report on progress made in implementing the measures.

This Act has focused local councils' attention on the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation, and on developing an integrated approach to their housing and energy efficiency strategies. Improvements achieved through HECA will contribute to meeting the UK's Climate Change commitments.

Download a copy of our Home Energy Conservation Act return for 2006-2007

Homelessness Strategy

Homelessness Strategy 2007-2012

Housing Allocation Scheme

This explains how the Council's policy on allocations works and how to understand the priority your application will receive.

Housing Allocation Scheme policy

Supporting People Strategy

Waltham Forest's Supporting People Strategy 2005-10 aims to ensure the Council's Supporting People services provide high quality housing-related support to improve the quality of life, independence, safety and choice for service users.

Supporting People Strategy

Decent Homes Standard

The Government has set a target to ensure that all social housing meets the Decent Homes Standard. Social housing means homes that are owned by your local authority or a Registered Social Landlord (RSL). RSLs are also sometimes called Housing Associations. A decent home is one that is wind and weather tight, warm and has modern facilities. Waltham Forest Council is striving to ensure that homes in the private sector meet the Decent Homes Standard, especially where an occupier is vulnerable. i.e. disabled, elderly or has children living at home.

You can find a full definition of the Decent Homes Standard on the Communities and Local Government website.

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