Havering Council Cabinet Members will consider adopting a new Access to Homes Policy in order to ensure that council homes are safe and remain in good condition.
The policy, to be presented at this month’s Cabinet meeting (22 January 2025), seeks to outline the circumstances when the Council (as the property landlord) may legally be allowed necessary access to a Council property.
It has already been approved by the Council’s Resident Panel.
This may include Gas safety checks, electrical testing and Health and Safety inspections to enable the Council to meet our legal and regulatory requirements for the wellbeing of our Council tenants and their neighbours.
It follows the recent stock condition and Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) surveys that were carried out and completed in November 2024, by contractor Savills, which Council tenants were notified about prior to the work starting.
The results are currently being analysed to help build programmes of work over the coming years to ensure our residents have safe and decent homes to live in.
The project highlighted some issue gaining access to properties to conduct the assessments.
The homes they could not gain access to have been recorded and passed on to the Council’s tenancy teams to investigate and arrange access so that the surveys can be carried out.
The proposed policy also outlines what action will be taken if access is, for whatever reason, denied.
Councillor Paul McGeary, Cabinet Lead for Housing Property, said:
“We have an obligation as a social housing landlord to make sure all our properties are maintained well for the safety and benefit of our tenants and we need their support to achieve that.
“For most tenants, this isn’t an issue. The new policy sets out these reasonable access criteria and details the process for any tenants who fail to meet their tenancy agreements by preventing us entry into their property.”
There are further plans to commission Savills to carry out stock condition and Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) surveys to the remainder of our properties, and residents will be notified in advance so that access can be arranged.