St Johns Road, Buxton
Local Lettings Policy

Peaks and Plains Housing Trust and High Peak Borough Council
14 November 2014

The site

St Johns Road, Buxton

A re-development by Peaks and Plains Housing Trust in Buxton, consisting of 8 self-contained apartments.

Link to Google Street Map of St Johns Road, Buxton (opens in a new window).

Reason for the Local Lettings Policy and Background

High Peak Borough Council, through its Housing Strategy has a responsibility to help High Peak residents have good quality homes and housing services which meet their needs, and help create sustainable, mixed and balanced communities. At the same time, we need to ensure that those in urgent housing need are housed as soon as possible.

The Home-Options Policy (which is agreed by the Home-Options partners, including High Peak Borough Council) highlights that local lettings policies have an important role in widening housing choices for local people and helping to provide sustainable communities. Peaks and Plains Housing Trust and High Peak Borough Council are proposing a local lettings policy which reflects key features in order to ensure a sustainable, mixed and balanced community on this redevelopment.

Expected Outcome

  • To develop a balanced tenant population & promote sustainable tenancies.
  • To prevent or minimise nuisance & anti-social behaviour within the development, to local residents & the wider community.

Legal Framework

This approach complies with the government’s guidance issued through the Allocation of accommodation: guidance for local housing authorities in England (DCLG, June 2012). This guidance allows councils and housing providers to use local lettings policies to achieve a wide range of policy objectives

The planning approval for this development requires the housing association to agree the arrangement for the letting of the rented properties with the Council as soon as possible.

The Local Lettings Policy Criteria

The criteria will be followed for the first let and any subsequent lets.

  • Under this policy:
  • Applicants must be 25 years or over
  • Peaks & Plains Housing Trust reserve the right to carry out pre-tenancy home visits, risk assessments and credit checks on all applicants
  • Applicants with access to children will be considered but no overnight stays are permitted due to the size of the accommodation
  • A minimum of 50% of all lets, preference will be given to: applicants who can demonstrate they are in employment or training. This will include full or part-time employment or training for the last six months. Only employed applicants that are in housing need (bands A-C) will be awarded this degree of additional preference
  • Applicants with pets (i.e dogs and cats) will not be considered but smaller pets such as reptiles for example will be considered on an individual basis by the Allocations Officer
  • Applicants must provide two references. Preference will be given to Employer and Landlord references
  • Any vulnerable applicant applying for accommodation as needing or requiring support; requires evidence from the relevant agencies, demonstrating successful engagement before any offer of accommodation
  • All applicants must sign up to a scheme specific Neighbourhood Agreement in addition to their tenancy agreement
  • Applicants convicted of offences relating to anti social behaviour, drugs, alcohol dependence or serious crime may not be considered.

Public Consultation

This policy was subject to public consultation via this website from 14 November to 28 November 2014. Six responses were received, which were broadly in favour of the local lettings policy. 

Contact details

Any queries about this Local Lettings Plan can be made to:

High Peak Borough Council
Buxton Town Hall
Market Place
Buxton
SK17 6EL

Tel: 0345 129 7777 or 01298 28400.