Share your views as Oxford City Council launches consultation on updated tenancy strategy

 

Updates focus on reducing the risk of homelessness, promoting tenancy sustainment, preventing eviction, and ensuring social homes across Oxford are let at genuinely affordable rents.

The key aims of the documents are to:

• Reaffirm secure tenancies and genuine affordability as core principles.

• Strengthen protections for residents, especially survivors of domestic abuse.

• Deepen partnership accountability across all social landlords.

• Give residents a stronger voice in shaping housing services.

 The move comes as the Council looks to put into action the priorities outlined in the “Social Housing (Regulations) Act” and new “Consumer Standards (2024)” introduced by the Regulator of Social Housing (including the Tenancy Standard).

They reflect the Council’s own objective of  “ensuring that affordable housing, existing or new, meets Oxford’s housing needs, is truly affordable and creates good quality and energy efficient accommodation.”

The proposals set out how the Council in its capacity as a social housing landlord to around 8,100 council homes, alongside a further 4,100 social homes managed by registered housing providers in Oxford will let, manage, and support tenancies.

What’s New?

The updated Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy reflect current national housing regulations and local priorities, including:

• Security of tenure: introductory and secure (lifetime) tenancies remain the standard offer for council tenants, giving residents long-term housing stability.
• Genuinely affordable rents: social rent remains the preferred rent level, with affordable rents capped at Local Housing Allowance levels to keep homes genuinely affordable.
• Tenancy Sustainment:  a stronger focus on tenancy sustainment and early help to prevent eviction and homelessness.
• Anti Social Behaviour: The Council will work collaboratively with tenants, the Police, and other statutory and voluntary services to tackle anti-social behaviour, based on the values of fairness, firmness, proportionality, partnership, and quality service.
• Domestic abuse protection: a strengthened, survivor-led approach guaranteeing safe housing and continued tenancy rights for victims of abuse.
• Partnerships: we introduced detailed expectations for Registered Providers (RPs) under the Oxford Register of Affordable Housing (ORAH) to work closely with the Council to:
  •  Support the use of lifetime tenancies;
  • Limit fixed-term tenancies;
  • Adhere to the Council’s pre-eviction protocol;
  • Allocate 90 -100% of homes through the Council’s Housing Register;
  • Maintain local management presence;
  • Consult with the Council on any tenure conversions or disposals.
• Tenant involvement: new measures to make sure residents help shape housing services and hold landlords to account.

Have your say

You can take part in the consultation:

• Online: Oxford Tenancy Strategy & Tenancy Policy Consultation - Oxford City Council - Citizen Space
• In person: Hard copies are available from Oxford Town Hall
• If you need the consultation materials in another language, large print, Braille, or audio format, please contact the Strategy and Service Development Team on 01865 249811 or email tenancyconsultation@oxford.gov.uk.

Feedback will help shape the final versions of the Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy before they go to Cabinet for approval later this year.

The draft Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy can be viewed online:

Oxford Tenancy Strategy & Tenancy Policy Consultation - Oxford City Council - Citizen Space

Comment

"Everyone deserves a safe, secure, and affordable home. These proposals strengthen our approach to housing management and resident support, and will put tenant voices at the heart of how we provide affordable homes in Oxford.

The City Council strives to deliver housing services at a high standard for our tenants and leaseholders,  and our commitment as a landlord goes beyond the maintenance of individual properties and includes keeping the local environment clean and safe, and supporting  local communities to thrive.

We are committed to ensuring fair access and transparency in the allocation of housing, and we want to hear what matters most to our residents and partners. We urge them to get involved before the 26th October.”

- Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities.