Dear Ms Mertens,

Thank you for your request dated 19 March 2024, asking for information that we hold as follows; please see our responses below in blue:

  1. How many tenants have a 5 year tenancy?

As at 4 April 2024, there were 1069 flexible tenancies of which 1059 are 5 year flexible tenancies.

  1. How many tenants have been reviewed after 5 years?

We cannot give you accurate figures for flexible tenancy reviews since flexible tenancies began in 2012 but can advise that on average, approximately 25 flexible tenancies were reviewed each month between April 2022 and March 2023. See further responses below.

  1. How often do you audit for housing stock, in light of the current housing crisis?

Housing stock is audited periodically to establish physical condition and to assist planning maintenance and improvements and to assist with the financial forecasting of any requirements identified/corroborated. If your question relates to auditing for housing need versus supply, this is done by measuring the number of void properties that occur on average  per annum. Other factors are measured to assist with this type of forecasting such as, but not limited to, planned new build properties (the council and all providers where we will have nomination rights), average casual nominations from Housing Associations and charities and private rentals.

  1. When was the last audit?

Forecasting for supply is updated every 3 months or so.

I note further down you had some other queries, please see our responses in blue below –

 

  1. When did life time tenancies end?

Lifetime (secure) tenancies were not ended by the council but from April 2012 they were only issued to existing lifetime secure tenants or certain groups of people who met the requirements for a lifetime secure tenancy, such as applicants over the age of 63 or applicants with a registered disabled household member. Please note that from 1 August 2023 Barnet council updated its Local Tenancy Strategy and now no longer issues flexible tenancies. All existing flexible tenants are being contacted in order to arrange for their tenancy to be changed to a lifetime secure tenancy. Since 1 October 2023 almost 400 tenancies have been changed from flexible to lifetime secure ones.

  1. How many of your properties are under life time tenancies?

7440 as at 4 April 2024. Please note that some properties are void, and some properties cannot have secure lifetime tenancies applied to them due to their designated use status. Examples are school caretaker properties or regeneration estates due to pending renewal/demolition.

  1. How many council only properties are there? (Please note I am requesting council only and not any other such as housing associations)

9396 as at 4 April 2024.

Your Rights

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a review by emailing Talk2Us@barnethomes.org and marking it as an appeal for the attention of the Data Controller. There is no charge for making an appeal.

After this, if you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner:

Kind regards,

Carly Williamson

Complaints and Information Manager

 

Tel: 020 8080 6587

Address: 3rd Floor, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 4EW