Colchester Borough Council is examining proposals to make a significant alteration to the way it offers housing to tenants in the Colchester area.
The current scheme, which sees secure tenancies that last for the lifetime of the resident, could be replaced by a ‘fixed term’ option, which will last for a minimum of five years.
As this is such a major change to the housing system in the area – which involves more than 6,000 homes – the Council is requesting the views of all residents, whether they are council tenants or otherwise, before any final decision on the change is made.
Residents already in lifetime tenancy agreements will not need to worry as their current agreement will remain in place, with the changes only affecting new applicants.
Another important area of council tenancies has been subject to a recent change in law. As of April 2012, the rules that govern the holding of a tenancy after the death of a resident were changed to give the right to take over the agreement only to spouses and partners.
Colchester Council is also asking the opinions of residents about proposals to extend this right to other parties.
If you would like to have your opinion on this important matter heard, you need to act fast as the consultation period is already well underway, and will run until January 25th 2013, when the Council will take the views of the residents into consideration.
The questionnaire is available online and as a paper version. Visit the Colchester Council website to see the online version.
