City Housing is the Council’s social housing service. Rents are increasingly unaffordable for tenants under the current operating model. It also has a growing operating deficit and a shortfall in funding for necessary housing upgrades. Without new sources of funding, City Housing will not be able to meet its costs of operating and upgrades beyond 2022/23.

We need to decide how we fund and operate City Housing to ensure its long-term future.

We need to make two important decisions on this and we’re seeking public feedback on them.


Question 1: Would you prefer the Council fund City Housing by increasing rates and borrowing or by setting up an independent Community Housing Provider (Eg a Housing Trust)?

Option A: Increase rates and borrowing


Option B: Set up a Community Housing Provider (CHP)
Preferred Option

Council will continue to run City Housing

Funding gaps met by increases in rates for rate payers, and increase to Council borrowing


A CHP would be set up to run the social housing service

CHP can access the Income Related Rent Subsidy (IRRS) scheme for new eligible tenants

CHP would make changes to the way the waiting list is managed

Main contact for tenants would become the CHP rather than the Council


Question 2: If we did set up an independent Community Housing Provider (CHP), which option do you support?

Option A: Asset-owing CHP with broad responsibilities
Option B: Leasehold CHP with broad responsibilities - Preferred Option

Option C: Leasehold CHP with narrow responsibilities
Council sells its housing to the CHP

CHP manages tenancies and most maintenance


Council leases its housing to the CHP

CHP manages tenancies and most maintenance
Council leases its housing to the CHP

CHP manages tenancies and minor repairs

Council manages major maintenance

More information

All options have pros and cons. You can find out more about these in the documents below:


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