Points for Consultation

Aspect	Current position	Preferred option and reasons why	Alternatives to consider
Flexible Tenancies (5-year fixed term)	Flexible tenancies were operated by both Selby and Harrogate but were never adopted by Richmondshire.	Cease to offer Flexible Tenancies and convert existing ones to fully secure tenancies over time. This will reduce the administration for the housing team and more importantly, provide additional security for all tenants. This is the approach now being adopted by most Local Authorities.	· Retain flexible tenancies and extend to all new tenants including Richmondshire. · Retain flexible tenancies for some tenants in certain situations such as those who have been offered larger homes or homes which have been significantly adapted for example.
Succession rights	Both Selby and Harrogate opted to restrict succession rights to tenancies which started after 1April 2012. Richmondshire opted to grant discretionary rights of succession.	Adopt the approach taken by Selby and Harrogate and limit the rights of succession to those set out in statute for all new tenants. This is legally the more straightforward option and easier to understand to implement. Discretion can also still be given to grant a new tenancy where appropriate.	· To adopt the approach taken by Richmondshire and offer all tenants equal rights of succession.
Joint tenants	Harrogate was fairly strict in limiting who could be offered a joint tenancy and only to persons in a relationship with anything else by exception only (there was no clarity as to what actually amounted to such an exception however). Richmondshire took a similar approach, but Selby was silent on the subject.	To allow a wider group of persons to be offered a joint tenancy including siblings. This option recognises the cost-of-living challenge faced by many single person households combined with the lack of single person accommodation within our stock for those age under 60.	· Retain the current approach and limit the offer of a joint tenancy to those in a relationship. · Widen the group of persons who can be offered a joint tenancy but only to those who have an existing history of living together such as siblings.
Introductory tenancies	Both Harrogate and Richmondshire offered introductory tenancies to all new tenants. Selby opted to offer secure tenants to those moving into Sheltered Housing, those over pensionable state age or those deemed “vulnerable” without the requirement to complete a probationary period.	To offer introductory tenancies to all new tenants. This option recognises that we do experience issues with both older tenants and those moving into Sheltered Housing, and which are impactful on other residents in those schemes.	· Adopt the Selby approach and offer secure tenancies to certain groups of tenants immediately with no requirement to offer an introductory tenancy first.