Shake-up to age policies of Council-owned homes

RESTRICTIONS dictating the age of people living in council houses in Reading have been removed.

Previously, nearly a thousand council homes had age restrictions placed on them, with around twothirds reserved for over 60s and a third for over 50s.

But now the age restrictions have been replaced with ‘local letting policies’ where required.

In 2018, age restrictions were removed in 80% of the council houses which had them, with the remaining 20% now being lifted.

The removal of restrictions does not apply to sheltered accommodation, retirement homes, sheltered living and some disabled access properties.

The restrictions were imposed when there were concerns about mixing older and younger council tenants together.

At a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s housing neighbourhoods and leisure committee on Wednesday, June 29, assistant housing needs manager Sarah Hennessey said: “With a changing demographic, age alone is not an indication of whether a tenant will be the perpetrator of anti-social behaviour or neighbour nuisance.”

Questions were raised over what local lettings policies entailed.

Cllr Ellie Emberson (Labour, Coley), the council’s lead for housing, said that criteria for new council occupants include not considering those who have a history of anti-social behaviour and heavy drug use.

This is part of the local letting policy on the Wensley Road estate in Coley.

Cllr Emberson said the policies are formed in consultations by herself, as lead councillor for housing, and ward councillors where the council houses are in.

Cllr Meri O’Connell (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) suggested that current tenants and neighbours of council housing estates should be involved in forming the policies.

She asked: “How are we going to manage existing residents’ anxiety over changes?

“I see that the lead councillors and ward members are involved, and obviously I am a representative, but I don’t live in those blocks myself.”

Ms Hennessey replied: “The mechanism that we were considering for consultation was through ward members. We’re happy to take suggestions on how else we can involve the communities if that is felt the right thing to do.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Will Cross (Labour, Redlands) asked whether council houses in the Hexham Road estate would have local letting policies to take local issues into account.

Ms Hennessey answered that there are currently no local letting policies in the Hexham Road estate, and she did not foresee the need for one.

She did acknowledge a local letting policy for the council houses could be implemented if needed.

The removal of restrictions was agreed unanimously.