Families moving into council homes are to benefit from a new policy that will improve the quality of houses for tenants across North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Council has adopted a new lettable standard which sets out the minimum condition a council-owned property must meet before it is re-let.
The guidelines cover a number of key areas such as internal decoration, heating systems and floor coverings, as part of the authority’s commitment to ensure consistency and fairness for tenants.
The new standard, which has been welcomed by tenants, was formally approved this month (July) and will be rolled out across the council’s housing service.
Tenants Audrey and Ricky Smith are among those to have welcomed the new policy, after moving into their new home in the Richmond area three weeks ago.
Audrey, 59 and Ricky, 63, have been tenants with the council for nearly four decades and heaped praise on the housing team who helped make what could have been a stressful time while moving house as easy as possible.
Mrs Smith said:
“It was so straightforward – the council really went above and beyond to make sure the inside and outside of the property was of a good standard.
“We’ve had to do nothing – it was ready to move in there and then, which takes a huge amount of pressure off as a tenant because moving house can be a stressful time.
“We’re delighted with how it’s gone, and the house is perfect – it’s paradise. We’ve been with the council for 39 years and wanted to downsize, and the experience has exceeded all our expectations.”
On the new lettable standard that will benefit tenants across North Yorkshire, Mrs Smith added:
“It has to be a good thing and it’s something I welcome.
“As a tenant, one of the biggest things is having the peace of mind to know that the house you’re moving in to is of the best quality it can be – even if that means you have to wait a little longer.”
The introduction of the lettable standard is part of the council’s wider efforts to improve the consistency of service received by tenants, regardless of where they live in North Yorkshire, and means properties are handed over in a better condition.
It also supports the authority’s approach to managing empty homes, known as voids, by ensuring that essential work is carried out while properties are unoccupied, reducing disruption for new tenants.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for housing, Cllr Simon Myers, said:
“It’s vital that we provide high-quality, safe and comfortable homes for our tenants.
“We own and manage 8,500 properties across the county, and this new lettable standard reflects our ambition to ensure every resident receives the same high standard of housing, no matter where they live across the county.
“By investing in our empty properties before they are re-let, we will not only be improving the homes themselves but also enhancing the experience of our tenants from day one.
“I would like to thank everyone involved including members of our overview and scrutiny task group, as well as involved tenants, whose invaluable contributions towards this lettable standard continue to help us provide the best possible service that residents deserve.”
Between April 2024 and March this year, a total of 467 void properties were successfully upgraded and re-let to tenants, representing more than five per cent of the council’s housing portfolio.
The implementation of the lettable standard quickly follows a new housing improvement strategy that has been adopted by the council, which offers a five-year roadmap on how the authority will improve its services to provide the best possible outcomes for tenants.
The strategy sets out the council’s ambition to be an outstanding social landlord and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring families’ voices are heard in decisions that affect their homes, safety and the wider community.
For more tenant information and advice, including how to report housing repairs, visit North Yorkshire Council’s website at https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/housingtenants
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