If you live in a council or a housing association property, you normally have a tenancy for life. The rent you pay is also cheaper than if you were renting privately, and when you die, you can normally pass your home to your spouse or partner and sometimes to other family members who were living with you.
From April onwards this year, the law on social housing will change for new tenants. The rights of existing social housing tenants will not change. Councils will soon be able to offer new tenants a shorter tenancy, known as a flexible tenancy. A flexible tenancy will be for a minimum of two years, but in most cases it will last for five years or more. If you're given a flexible tenancy for a fixed period of time, the council will review your circumstances before the tenancy comes to an end to see if you still need social housing or not.
Councils will still have the option to offer 'lifetime' tenancies.
Housing associations will also be able to grant shorter tenancies of at least two years, but in most cases for five years or more. They will be able to charge higher rent to new tenants, known as affordable rent. This could be as much as 80% of private rent on the open market.
While new tenants may still be able to pass their home to a spouse or partner when they die, it won't always be possible for children or other family members to inherit the tenancy.
There are also other changes planned. If you're homeless through no fault of your own and apply to the council to be housed, it can find you a privately rented home to live in instead of a council or housing association place. If you refuse, the council won't always have to offer you another place.
Each council will also have more control of who they'll accept on their housing waiting list, although they'll still have to look after people who are in most need, for example, if you're homeless.
Your council may be looking for views on what changes it will introduce in its area, for example, what people should qualify to go on its housing waiting list. You could check their website to see if they plan to make changes and how you can give feedback if you're interested. You can search for your local council on the Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk
These changes are mainly being introduced by the Localism Act 2011. You can read more about the housing and other changes in this Act on the Communities and Local Government website at www.communities.gov.uk.
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