There are occasions when it becomes necessary to move tenants or groups of tenants from their permanent home, either as a temporary measure to allow work to be completed on their permanent home before moving back or to move them to an alternative permanent home because their current home is not safe for their continued occupation. This is known as a decant.
Sandwell Council is committed to providing a customer centred approach to decanting tenants and ensuring that decants are conducted in an efficient and fair manner.
This policy sets out the assistance that will be offered to customers requested to decant to alternative accommodation.
This policy applies to all general needs tenants, tenants of extra care schemes and owners within leasehold properties.
A decant may take place in a number of circumstances such as:
- In case of an emergency such as a fire, flood or health and safety risk
- In the above cases, the Council will consider the use of hotel/B&B accommodation.
- Scheduled major work meaning that the property is uninhabitable
(this list is not exhaustive)
Where necessary repair or improvement work has been identified, the Council will assess the works required and decide whether minor or major works are necessary. Where the work cannot be completed with the customer continuing to occupy the property, or it would be unreasonable to expect the tenant to continue to live through the expected disruption of the work the Council will arrange alternative accommodation.
Affected tenants will be involved from the start of the decant process. We will ensure that:
- the reason why we consider that a decant is appropriate and necessary is explained
- they are given an individual named contact
- we discuss any alternative options that may be available
- we confirm and agree on what is considered to be a reasonable offer of alternative accommodation
- advise of the action that may be taken if the tenant refuses to be relocated when a reasonable offer has been made