East Suffolk Council
News
Housing improvement programme making progress
East Suffolk Council is making progress with a detailed improvement programme following the authority’s decision earlier this year to report itself to the Regulator for Social Housing.
The Council’s review, which encompasses information dating back to East Suffolk’s predecessor authority Waveney District Council, is considering how we set our rental charges, to ensure we meet the requirements set out in the nationally recognised ‘Rent Standard’.
The Council previously explained that some tenants who moved in after 2014 may have been incorrectly charged a higher rent. An independent, external audit of every rent account is now underway, and this will identify which tenants have been affected and calculate any overpayments that should be credited back to the rent account.
The review is also looking at all aspects of Health and Safety related to our properties, including Fire Risk Assessments, Asbestos Management, Water Safety, Gas and Electrical Safety as well as the management and maintenance of equipment including Lifts and Stairlifts.
Following the Council’s decision to report itself, the Regulator has considered the information provided to them by East Suffolk and has now shared its findings. As anticipated, they confirm breaches of Housing Regulations, and their findings have been published in the form of a Regulatory Notice.
Cllr Steve Gallant, Leader of East Suffolk Council, said:
Helping to deliver affordable homes in East Suffolk
A new planning document has been adopted in East Suffolk to help guide the development of affordable homes being delivered across the district.
East Suffolk Council has adopted a new Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The Affordable Housing SPD provides guidance to support the implementation of the Council’s planning policies on affordable housing.
Cllr David Ritchie, cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “Our two Local Plans contain policies relating to the provision and development of affordable housing and this Supplementary Planning Document will support the implementation of those policies. This new document, which includes guidance on the design of affordable housing, legal agreements and carrying out local housing needs assessments, will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications going forward.”
View the Affordable Housing SPD, and supporting documents, including the Consultation Statement and the Adoption Notice.
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