Giant housing association to offer lifetime tenancy to all residents

The news follows last month’s U-turn by the government, which had proposed to scrap lifetime tenancies entirely and create rolling fixed-term tenancies. It gave up on this policy in August.

According to L&Q, its research had highlighted that many residents suffer anxiety about the renewal process, and that fixed-term tenancies “were not achieving their desired policy outcomes”.

It added that the renewal date very rarely coincided with a change in residents’ circumstances, and said L&Q has renewed the overwhelming majority of its tenancies without ending a single one due to under occupation.

Research also found that fixed-term tenancies act as a barrier to mobility with people not wanting to lose security of tenure, and that the biggest problem to meeting housing need, including downsizing, is the lack of available suitable homes.

David Montague, chief executive at L&Q, said: “We found [fixed-term tenancies] to be a crude tool that have not fixed the problems they were created to address. What’s more, the renewal process causes unnecessary worry for residents.”

“We share the government’s determination to tackle social stigma. Ending fixed-term tenancies, introducing a new home standard, linking rents to local incomes and a £250m long-term investment in communities to build skills and opportunities are all designed to ensure that everyone has a safe, secure, quality home they can afford.”

Fayann Simpson, a board member and chair of the resident services group at L&Q, said: “I’m delighted that L&Q has made these changes following extensive consultation with residents. It will help thousands of residents to feel more secure about their home and their future.”