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If major works need to be carried out on Council-owned properties, and it is decided that it is not safe for you to stay in your home whilst the work is carried out, we may ask you to move to alternative accommodation. This could be on a temporary or permanent basis. We call this ‘decanting’. Your Tenant Services Officer will consult with you and work with you to arrange such a move if this is necessary. When the work has been completed you will be entitled to return to the property you were decanted from.
If a decant is necessary the Council has a legal obligation under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 to consult with tenants when they are substantially affected. We are required to consult with you at the early stages of any proposed works.
You will be asked to make a decision as to whether you wish to return to your home after completion of the works or if you would prefer to move out permanently. If you wish to move out permanently you may be entitled to some form of compensation and/or disturbance allowance.
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If you have to leave your home temporarily, we will arrange temporary accommodation for your needs.
Where you are being temporarily decanted, you will remain a secure tenant of your main home, but will not be charged rent for this whilst you are in temporary accommodation. The rent to be charged on your temporary home will not exceed the rent you would have been charged for your main home, regardless of whether or not you are in receipt of Housing Benefit. You will not be charged two lots of rent.
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If you have previously submitted an application for a transfer, then we will try to move you permanently through the transfer process, before any works start, so you do not need to move twice. This means no compensation will be payable.
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If you are offered alternative or temporary accommodation and once you know the date you will be moving, there are certain things you will need to do:
If you have any gas appliances, you must contact a Corgi registered gas engineer to arrange for the disconnection. This is because supply pipes must be property sealed. Similarly, a qualified electrician should disconnect any electrical appliances, such as showers or washing machines. Don't forget to arrange for final readings to be taken of gas and electricity meters. You will probably need to give at least 48 hours notice to the gas and electricity companies.
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax
You must inform the Benefits Service of any change of address. If you already receive housing benefit or council tax benefit, you must tell the Benefits Service your new address as soon as possible, to make sure you continue to receive all that is due to you. Remember, housing benefit is payable on your principal address, so you must move into your new property as soon as possible.
You will need to agree with your Tenant Services Officer the date to return the keys for your old property.
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There are two payments that may be made to tenants decanting, depending on the circumstances:
A Home Loss Payment of £4,400 will be paid by the Council as compensation for the loss of your home because of redevelopment work that is to be carried out. This payment is made in recognition of the personal stress/upset of losing what may have been your longstanding home. Joint tenants are only entitled to one home loss payment. Payment will be made once you have moved into your new home.
In order to claim for this payment, you need to fill in a Home Loss Payment Form (PDF, 17KB).
The disturbance payment is made as a contribution towards actual expenses up to a limit of £600. Examples of some of the things you will be able to claim are:
- Disconnection/reconnection of cookers, gas fires, washing machines,
- Carpeting - uplifting, refitting and or replacement,
- Curtains and blinds and other soft furnishings.
You must provide receipts or invoices or some other evidence of payment for all reasonable expenses.
In order to claim for this payment, you need to fill in a Disturbance Allowance Form (PDF, 26KB).
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Your removals will be arranged and paid for directly by the Council.
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In some instances the council will consider the redevelopment of a site on which a council property or properties are situated. This may involve the vacant Council dwellings being transferred to one of our partner Housing Associations. In these situations tenants will be engaged with at an early stage to establish their views, and carry out negotiations to establish whether the scheme is viable.
Any Home Loss or Disturbance payments resulting from a situation like this will be made on a discretionary and case by case basis.
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