Homes for Lambeth

07 February 2022

Your request

I would like to request a response relating to Homes for Lambeth (HFL) and dwellings which will be allocated to council tenancies.

The key thing I am trying to understand is "what is the net effect of the HFL programme on the number of dwellings which will be owned/held by the council and used for council tenancy dwellings"?

I have reviewed the various business plans and metrics set out by HFL, however they do not clearly state what the overall net impact will be. i.e. how many council tenancy dwellings will be demolished during the programme and how many will be built? The difference between these two figures would be the net impact.

Please note, when I say above "council tenancy dwellings" I am specifically referring to dwellings which are owned (freehold or leasehold) by Lambeth Council (or subsidiaries) and are rented out to those who qualify for "council housing". I am not referring to any form of private dwelling (affordable, council-level-rent, or otherwise). I am also specifically not referring to existing dwellings which might be brought under HFL management - I am only interested in understanding the net impact as it relates to demolitions and rebuilding, or rebuilding on currently vacant land.

I am also interested in understanding whether there are any plans to conduct longer term "privatisation" of council dwellings which are part of the HFL programme. i.e. if HFL delivers x amount of council tenancy dwellings, would any of those be scheduled for sale after a certain period?

My intent is to understand whether there is an overall shift in the dwelling stock from publicly owned/administered dwellings to the private sector.

To summarise my two key questions:

• What is the net impact on the number of council tenancy dwellings that will be caused by the HFL programme?
• What (if any) plans are in place over the medium to longer term to "privatise" council tenancy dwellings delivered by the HFL programme?

Our response

What is the net impact on the number of council tenancy dwellings that will be caused by the HFL programme?

What (if any) plans are in place over the medium to longer term to "privatise" council tenancy dwellings delivered by the HFL programme?

Neither the council or the HFL Group of companies have any medium or longer term intention to sell off or otherwise dispose of any of the above properties. However, certain of these properties will be subject to a contractual right to buy. This is limited to those existing secure tenants who transfer to a new build council level rent home on the estate where they live. Additionally, shared ownership tenants will be entitled to staircase their share of any property they purchase under the shared ownership scheme. In any event, the council retains the freehold of the land.