Updated guidance has been published for social housing landlords regarding essential moves. Whilst the Government recommends that people should delay moving to a new home while emergency measures are in place, social housing landlords should still co-operate with Local Authorities.
Landlords are advised to pause non-essential allocation and transfer activity. Meanwhile, some clarification of what essential activity would include has been provided:
- supporting victims of domestic abuse and people fleeing other forms of violence
- preventing severe overcrowding
- facilitating move-on from temporary accommodation
- facilitating discharge from hospital to free up bed space for others requiring care
- supporting those living in unsafe accommodation, or without settled accommodation, which poses a risk to their health
Each landlord will have to consider how to carry out the function of an essential move and each case must be based on its own facts. Landlords should also strongly discourage tenants from requesting a mutual exchange, unless of course it falls under the description of an essential move, and this should be communicated to applicants, for example, on websites.
Unless it is an essential move and cannot be delayed for reasons of safety, landlords should avoid moving tenants who are self-isolating or shielding, or if they or a member of their family have symptoms of COVID-19. Government guidance is available on how landlords can deal with tenants who are shielding or extremely vulnerable and these tenants should avoid moves where possible.
Landlords should also pause non-essential maintenance work if this would require a household to move temporarily into other accommodation. This would include routine and planned maintenance, such as replacement of kitchens and bathrooms or window replacement.
