Housing strategy and policy

Does the council have a housing strategy?

Yes. The council has produced a revised Housing Strategy for 2017 which proposes a vision for housing in the area for the period up to 2021. The Housing Strategy includes a delivery Action Plan which is reviewed each year.

The vision for the strategy is: "To enable more new homes and for all housing to be of a quality, type, and size which meets the needs of our urban, rural and coastal communities and supports economic growth. This will help to support a high-quality and balanced residential offer across all the local housing market areas".

East Riding Housing Strategy 2017 (pdf 1.2mb)

Housing Strategy Action Plan 2021 update (pdf 161kb)

Find out more about the housing strategy:

Is the council undertaking any housing needs surveys at the moment?

No. The council is not currently not undertaking housing needs surveys.

Does the council have a tenancy strategy?

The Localism Act 2011 requires all English housing authorities to prepare and publish a tenancy strategy which sets out the types of tenancies offered by the council and housing associations operating in the East Riding:

Does the council have a tenancy policy?

Yes. The tenancy policy sets out:

• the type and length of tenancies the council is to offer
• the council's policy on succession rights for existing and new tenants
• the council's policy on assignment. 

Tenancy Policy (2019) (pdf 549kb)

Are there any strategies or policies currently out for consultation?

Not at present.

Does the council have a homelessness strategy?

Yes, the Prevention of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2018-23 (2019 update) sets out how we will work with households to prevent them from becoming homeless wherever possible, or to assist them in finding alternative accommodation. 

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 has introduced additional duties for local authorities relating to homeless prevention and relief, by extending our duty to more households and for longer. 

Where homelessness cannot be avoided the strategy sets out our approach to formal homeless applications and the provision of temporary accommodation where appropriate. 

We are continuing to work with partner agencies to minimise the incidence of rough sleeping and assist individuals to access accommodation.

Prevention of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2019 (pdf 1.6mb)

What assistance do we offer to residents to adapt or improve their home?

We have prepared a Housing Assistance Policy that sets out what the council could provide to assist people living in their own homes. This includes aids and adaptations, homes security, renewable technology, and insulation.

Housing Assistance Policy (pdf 449kb)

How is the council supporting residents in fuel poverty?

Some residents in the East Riding struggle to keep their property suitably warm during cold weather. These people are classed as suffering from fuel poverty.

The council chairs the East Riding Affordable Warmth Partnership who have recently developed a new Affordable Warmth Strategy.

Members of the partnership include East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, East Riding Age UK, East Riding Rural Partnership and Citizens Advice Bureau.

A copy of the Affordable Warmth Strategy is available to view below:

Affordable Warmth Strategy 2015 (pdf 2.6mb)

Has the council submitted a home energy conservation act report?

Yes. The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 recognises that local authorities have an important role to play in helping others to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The Act places a duty on local councils to report back to the government every two years, outlining the progress made in this period and their plans for the future. A copy of the 2021 report is available to view below:

Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) Report - 2021 (pdf 422kb)

Is the council a member of any partnerships involved in delivering the housing strategy?

The council was part of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area. The housing strategy sets the strategic priorities for housing growth and delivery from 2015 to 2021 in the LEP area, a copy of which can be found below:

York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Housing Strategy 2015-21 (pdf 2mb)

Does the council have an empty homes strategy?

Yes. The Empty Homes Strategy sets out how the council will tackle issues surrounding long-term empty properties over the next three years and bring as many as possible back into use.

The strategy ensures that the best use is made of existing housing stock reducing its risk of falling into decline and causing a blight on local communities. By encouraging the reuse of empty homes the council can reduce the pressure on greenfield development whilst delivering much-needed homes.

Empty Homes Strategy 2020 (pdf 1mb)

Does the council have an Older People's Housing Strategy?

Yes. Encouraging people to plan their future housing needs is a key outcome of this strategy and we will do all we can to promote awareness of the services available to older people and their carers. Making sure the existing housing stock and all new developments meet the needs of older people now and in the future is also promoted through this strategy:

Older Peoples Housing Strategy 2019 - 2024 (pdf 1.52mb)

Supporting Information Older People's Housing Strategy 2019-2024 (pdf 1.4mb)

The strategy sets out the council’s approach to addressing the housing needs of older residents in East Riding across all tenure and includes the following three objectives:

1. Provide appropriate and accessible housing advice
2. Improve and maximise the use of existing housing and promote independent living
3. Facilitate the provision of new housing in response to an identified need, including schemes for aspirational living.

Does the council have a housing strategy for vulnerable people?

Yes. The strategy is designed to meet identified local needs of vulnerable people and, in so doing, two key objectives have been identified:

Promoting independent and healthy lives

Ensuring that the East Riding has quality housing complemented by support and care provision to meet the needs of current and future residents.

Delivering supported housing to meet the identified need

Strategic housing authorities have a duty to assess the housing needs of their residents including those in need of housing-related support and then seek ways to meet those needs.

Housing Strategy for Vulnerable People (pdf 14mb)

How is the council supporting housing in rural communities?

On the morning of Tuesday 22 May 2018, the council hosted a Rural Housing Seminar at Bishop Burton College alongside the East Riding Rural Partnership. A range of delegates was in attendance including members, officers as well as representatives from parish councils, developers and registered providers. The event encouraged discussion around the challenges of delivering housing in rural locations to meet the needs of local communities and included speakers from the National Housing Federation, East Midlands Community Land Trust, REACH and the council. 

The presentation slides can be found below:

REACH - Rob Tranmer and Alan Taylor (pdf 2.6mb)

5 Star Plan for Rural Housing - Monica Burns (pdf 1.6mb)

A Bank of Good - Jeremy Ince (pdf 1.1mb)

Rural Housing Challenges - A Planning Perspective - John Craig (pdf 1.3mb)

Supporting Community-Led Housing in the East Midlands - John Mather (pdf 2.3mb)