Draft tenant offer

Key point 1

If you're a secure council tenant and you want to continue to live on the estate, you will be guaranteed an offer of a new home at a social rent level on the estate if it is rebuilt, with the same tenancy conditions that you have today.

A housing needs assessment completed by our dedicated team, will ensure you're provided with a home that matches your requirements.

Please note: We would not rehouse a tenant if an outright possession order has been made by a Court for breach of their tenancy conditions for example, due to rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.

Tenants with rent arrears would not be eligible to move into a new build property on any rebuilt site at Regina Road unless their current rent or any agreed arrears repayment plan has been paid for a continuous period of six months. (Tenants have a right to request a review undertaken by an Appeals and Reviews Officer against a decision not to rehouse).

Key point 2

We will provide financial support to all residents during their move, whether for refurbishment or to a new home. Secure tenants can receive a Home Loss compensation payment, currently £7,800, and a disturbance payment to cover the costs of moving home.

These costs might include reconnecting white goods and services, removal services, telephone and internet disconnection and reconnection. We could also potentially help with any aids and adaptations that are needed in the home.

Key point 3

The size and type of property of a new home on the estate will depend on the size of your household as we have set out below.

A bedsit, or a one-bedroom property, would be provided for single person household. For other households we would provide a separate bedroom for:

• you and your spouse or partner
• each adult in your household aged 21 or older
• every pair of adolescents in your household of the same sex aged between 10 and 20 years old
• every pair of children in your household aged less than 10 years regardless of sex

We would work with households that need more than 4 bedrooms on a case-by-case basis. Downsizing, if you choose to move into a smaller property that meets your housing needs, you could, subject to budget availability, be eligible for a downsizing payment for any room returned to the housing service.

Key point 4

You may wish to know that existing eligible resident leaseholders or freeholders will be guaranteed an offer of a new home on the rebuilt estate.

Options for secure tenants

Subject to the eligibility criteria as set out in the draft Local Letting Plan for Regina Road the following options will be available to tenants.

Option 1

Move to an existing council property elsewhere in the borough of Croydon. You have the option of moving to a different area of Croydon and would be entitled to 1 or 2 direct offers of alternative accommodation. If you would like to move to an area outside of London altogether, we would look on your behalf for suitable options, using schemes such as the Homefinder scheme.

Option 2

Move to an existing housing association elsewhere in the borough of Croydon. You also have the option of moving to a property that is owned and managed by a Housing Association elsewhere in the borough. Again, you would be entitled to 1 or 2 direct offers of alternative accommodation. If you are considering this option, you would be supported by a housing officer to ensure you understand the differences between council and housing association tenancies and to check if the rent is affordable, if it is likely to be higher than what you are currently paying.

Option 3

Eligible tenants can move to a property in either a sheltered or an extra care housing scheme elsewhere in the borough.

Dedicated scheme officers would help tenants to view the accommodation and provide ongoing support with moving into the property.

We will offer extra support to any residents who need it, for example older or disabled residents who may need help to view alternative housing or to pack up their belongings to move home.

Tenants who need extra support due to ill-health, frailty or restricted mobility may want to consider applying to move into extra care housing. These tenants will be entitled to 2 direct offers of alternative accommodation.

Eligibility checklist:

• 55 years and over
• Aged 55 to 59 years and receiving Personal Independence payments (PIPs)
• Single or joint applicants with no children
• In need of the housing support provided by the scheme

Option 4

Purchase of an affordable home elsewhere through a low-cost home ownership scheme.

Council tenants who are working and have savings will be supported to purchase an affordable home. A number of affordable homes are being built in the borough under Shared Ownership and Shared Equity schemes and tenants can also be supported to purchase such properties, as well as properties on the open market.

Officers can provide housing advice on whether this is an affordable and viable option based on individual financial circumstances

Option 5

Rent a property elsewhere with a private landlord.

We can help tenants to move to a property in the private rented sector, potentially a good option for a tenant who would like to move nearer a support network in another borough or outside London.

We can provide support by helping to identify affordable private rented accommodation with landlords in or outside of the borough. We can also contribute towards the required deposit and first month’s rent.

Option 6

Move into a new property in the new development once it is completed. If residents vote to rebuild new homes on the estate, we will build new council housing on the site. Priority for the new build homes will be given to those who have had to move home during the rebuilding programme.

This option will apply to eligible tenants who have initially:

• moved to a council or housing association property elsewhere within the borough on a temporary basis
• moved to a sheltered housing property elsewhere in the borough on a temporary basis

Tenants who have rent arrears will not be eligible to move into a new-build property in the rebuilt estate unless they have maintained payments of current rent plus their agreed arrears repayment plan for a minimum period of 6 months.

Return to the Regina Road Consultation.