Pay-to-Stay changes stopped
Pay-to-Stay – a proposal to increase local authority housing rents for higher earners – will not be implemented by St Albans City and District Council.
Tenants across the country could face the rise from April this year if their household is earning in excess of £31,000-a-year.
However, the Council has now decided not to introduce the policy in the District following a Government announcement that it is non-mandatory.
The decision was revealed in a report on housing and planning issues due to be given to a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet on Thursday 16 March. This update follows the publication of a Government White Paper on Housing as well as last year’s Housing and Planning Act.
In other developments, the Council continues to lobby the Government about plans to enforce the sale of high-value local authority homes.
It wants an assurance that it can retain enough money from any sales to replace the properties that are sold.The Council is also reviewing its approach to fixed term tenancies in light of new regulations and guidance expected from the Department for
Communities and Local Government.
For example, it is expected that Councils will be allowed to offer fixed term tenancies of up to ten years to families with school-age children. This is beyond the normal terms of two to five years.
Long-term tenancies could also be offered to households where there is someone with a disability or long-term illness, older people, and those providing long-term care.
Councillor Brian Ellis, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “There are a lot of changes to Government housing policy and we need to keep on top of them.
“We are dealing with a range of issues such as pay-to-stay, the sale of high value houses, the shortage of affordable homes and new guidelines for tenancy agreements.
“We are determined to rise to the challenge and look after the interests of people in the St Albans District.”
Councillor contact:
Councillor Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing for St Albans City and District Council.
Email: Cllr.B.Ellis@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 01727 866100
Councillor contact:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council.
E-mail: john.mcjannet@