Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Housing and recommendation from the People and Health Overview Committee on 2 February 2026.

(a)           That the Dorset Council Tenancy Strategy 2026 – 2031 be approved.

(b)           That the relevant part of section 5.3 of the Tenancy Strategy be amended as follows:

“We welcome an approach where any breaches of tenancy (for example rent arrears, anti-social behaviour and damaging property) are dealt with under the normal possession process, allowing a court to consider the case. We expect registered providers to avoid including tenant rent arrears in decisions on tenancy renewals. We expect registered providers to prioritise other methods to resolve rent arrears.

We also expect registered providers to avoid including complaints due to antisocial behaviour in decisions on tenancy renewals. In exceptional circumstances, if registered providers do consider non-renewal of tenancy because of antisocial behaviour, we expect that community care needs (e.g. social care needs, domiciliary care needs, health care needs, etc.) are included in any assessment.”

Reason for the decision

This strategy fulfilled the council’s legal obligations under The Localism Act 2011 by explaining its expectations and outlining the approach the council would like Registered Providers to take when creating their own tenancy policies.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Housing presented the recommendation of the People and Health Overview Committee of 2 February 2026, to approve the Dorset Council Tenancy Strategy 2026 – 2031.

As part of their consideration, the People and Health Overview Committee proposed an amendment to section 5.3 of the Tenancy Strategy and this amendment was welcomed by the Cabinet Member.

It was proposed by Cllr G Taylor seconded by Cllr S Robinson

Decision

(a)           That the Dorset Council Tenancy Strategy 2026 – 2031 be approved.

(b)           That the relevant part of section 5.3 of the Tenancy Strategy be amended as follows:

“We welcome an approach where any breaches of tenancy (for example rent arrears, anti-social behaviour and damaging property) are dealt with under the normal possession process, allowing a court to consider the case. We expect registered providers to avoid including tenant rent arrears in decisions on tenancy renewals. We expect registered providers to prioritise other methods to resolve rent arrears.

We also expect registered providers to avoid including complaints due to antisocial behaviour in decisions on tenancy renewals. In exceptional circumstances, if registered providers do consider non-renewal of tenancy because of antisocial behaviour, we expect that community care needs (e.g. social care needs, domiciliary care needs, health care needs, etc.) are included in any assessment.”

Reason for the decision

This strategy fulfilled the council’s legal obligations under The Localism Act 2011 by explaining its expectations and outlining the approach the council would like Registered Providers to take when creating their own tenancy policies.

To consider a report of the Service Manager for Housing Strategy and Performance.

The Corporate Director for Housing and Community Safety introduced the report. Producing a Tenancy Strategy was a statutory requirement for the council. The purpose of the strategy and the role of the council in social housing tenancies was outlined. Housing registered providers had a duty to cooperate with the Housing Authority.

Cllr Fuhrmann proposed an amendment, which was agreed by the committee, to provide additional clarification to section 5.3 of the strategy. The amended part of the section would read as follows:

We welcome an approach where any breaches of tenancy (for example rent arrears, anti-social behaviour and damaging property) are dealt with under the normal possession process, allowing a court to consider the case. We expect registered providers to avoid including tenant rent arrears in decisions on tenancy renewals. We expect registered providers to prioritise other methods to resolve rent arrears.

We also expect registered providers to avoid including complaints due to antisocial behaviour in decisions on tenancy renewals.  In exceptional circumstances, if registered providers do consider non-renewal of tenancy because of antisocial behaviour, we expect that community care needs (e.g. social care needs, domiciliary care needs, health care needs, etc.) are included in any assessment.

There was no further discussion on the strategy.

Proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded by Cllr Atwal.

Decision:

That the Dorset Tenancy Strategy 2026 – 2031 and the amendment be recommended to Cabinet for approval.