Issue - meetings

To seek approval from Cabinet for the freehold purchase of a residential property in Tendring.

RESOLVED that Cabinet authorises, in principle, the freehold purchase of the property, subject to its decision to be taken later in the meeting in relation to the terms of the contract and the transfer of deeds necessary to complete the purchase of the property.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a joint report of the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder and the Housing Portfolio Holder (A.4) which sought its approval for the freehold purchase of a residential property within the District.

It was reported that Officers were working with a family who were threatened with homelessness due to mortgage arrears but who also had a need for an adapted property. It was likely that the Council would be in a position where it needed to find suitable accommodation in order to prevent or relieve such homelessness. However, for a number of years the Council had had a very strong demand for the needed size of property which had been adapted to assist tenants with disabilities. Turnover of such tenancies was very low and it was very unlikely that a property suitable for this family would become available.

Cabinet was informed that the property currently occupied by the family had been purchased from the Council a number of years ago through the Right to Buy scheme. Taking a broad and pragmatic view of what were very unusual and complex circumstances it was felt that an effective option for the Council would be to explore the purchase of this property that was already undergoing adaptations via a Disabled Facilities Grant. This would bring a further adapted property into the housing stock whilst discharging a statutory homelessness duty.

Members were made aware that the family had been accepted onto the Council’s Housing Register and were in a high priority banding that would qualify them for a property such as this were it to become available. It was therefore proposed that the family become tenants of the property upon completion of the sale.

Cabinet was advised that the Housing Manager and the Development & Building Manager had both visited the property and were in agreement that it was a suitable property to bring back into the Council’s housing stock. In addition, a Chartered Surveyor valuation had been obtained and a purchase price agreed with the family.

Having considered the information provided in the report:-

It was moved by Councillor P B Honeywood, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet authorises, in principle, the freehold purchase of the property, subject to its decision to be taken later in the meeting in relation to the terms of the contract and the transfer of deeds necessary to complete the purchase of the property.