Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing details of the extent of underoccupation in Leeds, and proposing that new incentive schemes are developed to encourage underoccupying council tenants to move to smaller properties to promote best use of housing stock. The report also clarifies how the Leeds Arm’s Length Management Organisations should use Ground 16 powers under the Housing Act 1985 to move underoccupying tenants who have succeeded to a council tenancy following the death of the tenant. 

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing details of the extent of under-occupation in Leeds, and proposing that new incentive schemes be developed to encourage under-occupying Council tenants to move to smaller properties to promote best use of housing stock. The report also clarified how the Leeds Arm’s Length Management Organisations should use Ground 16 powers under the Housing Act 1985 to move under-occupying tenants who have succeeded to a Council tenancy following the death of the tenant. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to expenditure of up to £300,000 in 2008/09 on encouraging under-occupiers in the largest stock to move to more appropriately sized accommodation.

(b)  That  the available legal powers to manage under-occupation be used in accordance with section 3.3.5-6 of the submitted report.

(c)  That a further report be brought tot the Board in February 2009 providing a detailed action plan with targets on how incentives for under-occupation can be adopted for 2009/10.