Decant Policy

1.1         As a landlord, Gateshead Council has a duty to undertake repairs to its tenants' homes. The vast majority of repairs can be completed with the tenant or leaseholder remaining in their home. However, there will be occasions where works cannot be carried out with the tenant present due to the extent of the work required or due to health and safety issues.

1.2         We recognise that moving on a temporary basis involves substantial upheaval and inconvenience and may cause distress. A move into temporary alternative accommodation will therefore only be considered where a tenant or leaseholder cannot remain in occupation while works are undertaken.

1.3         This policy sets out how Gateshead Council will support tenants who are required to move out of their home in order to undertake planned and essential repairs or improvements.

1.4         The key objective of this policy is to ensure our Cabinet, Senior Management Team, employees, partners, and tenants are clear on our legal and regulatory obligations. This policy provides the framework our staff and partners will operate within to meet these obligations.

1.5         Where a decant is required, the council will arrange to move the tenant and their household. This will be on a temporary basis, depending on the nature and duration of the works.

1.6         The property that the tenants(s) move to may be Council owned, a registered provider, privately owned or hotel accommodation. The tenant may also decide to arrange their own accommodation on a temporary basis with family or friends.

1.7         The objectives of this policy for tenants decanting on a temporary basis are:

• manage the decant process in the most efficient and cost-effective way
• make the best use of our housing stock
• minimise the inconvenience to tenants who we are required to decant
• ensure that tenants are kept informed throughout the process
• avoid temporary accommodation or hotel placements unless critically required
• provide effective consultation and feedback to tenants at the earliest opportunity and throughout the decant process
• decants operate in a fair and reasonable manner, in accordance with the current Allocations Policy
• ensure the best use of council resources and minimise rent loss by having a joint approach to decants in line with the current Allocations Policy
• establish a basis for making offers of support, both financial and practical, to tenants obliged to decant