Decision Taken By: CABINET MEMBER FOR Housing
Decision No: D110017MEM
Date: 21st February 2011
Decision(s) and Reason(s)
Deposit Bond/Rent Deposit Scheme
Minutes
The report set out the background to the current Deposit Bond and Rent Deposit Scheme which had allowed the Council to avoid the long-term use of bed and breakfast and other temporary accommodation for homeless families.
Details were given of a recent independent appraisal of the scheme by colleagues from Gravesham Council's Housing Service which had been followed by a comprehensive review of the Deposit Bond and Rent Deposit policy and its accompanying procedures. The paper set out proposals to ensure that the scheme continued to offer an alternative to temporary accommodation, enabling eligible customers to access good quality housing in the private rented sector, whilst minimising (as far as possible) the level of financial exposure for the Council.
Following consideration by the Strategic Housing Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Housing resolved that
1) subject to the addition of a clause requiring the provision of an inventory as part of the letting agreement and to reduction of the indemnity period for rent arrears to four weeks, the Deposit Bond/Rent Deposit Scheme, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed; and
2) the scheme be subject to a further review in two years' time.
Reasons: As set out in the report submitted to the Strategic Housing Advisory Board of 21 February 2011.
Signed J Anderson (Cabinet Member for Housing)
Signed Leader: M Worrall
Signed Chief Executive: D Hughes
Date of Publication: 25 February 2011
This decision will come into force and may then be implemented on the expiry of 5 working days after publication unless it is called in.