Social Landlord Service: Decant Policy

1. Introduction
1. 1.1. Great Yarmouth Borough Council aims to provide a well-maintained home for every tenant and their household.
2. 1.2. If at all possible, the Council will carry out repairs and improvements whilst the tenant and their family remain in their home. However, there may be exceptional occasions where this is not possible and the tenant's household will have to move out temporarily to enable urgent and major repairs to be completed or for other housing management reasons. This process is called a decant.
3. 1.3. This Policy outlines the support that the Council provides to support tenant's through the decant process and to minimise the impact on tenant's wellbeing when they have to temporarily vacate their home.
2. Policy context
1. 2.1. This Policy operates within the following policy context: Tenancy policy.
2. 2.2. The Council's Housing Allocation Scheme is explicit that the offer of a social housing property as a temporary decant is outside the scope of the scheme, as such offers are not allocations of housing in accordance with the Housing Act 1996.
3. Scope and purpose
1. 3.1. The purpose of this policy is to explain what the Council will do when a tenant has to temporarily vacate their home. It does not cover permanent decants which will be dealt with through the Housing Allocation Scheme.
2. 3.2. the Council is contracted under the Tenancy Agreement to keep in good repair the structure and exterior of the home of the tenant.
3. 3.3. This policy recognises the huge impact that moving home can have on people's lives, especially for decants as the move is not through choice. The policy therefore aims to provide a thorough understanding of the decant process and the practical help that the Council can provide to any tenants and their household that need to be decanted on a temporary basis from their home.
4. Our approach
1. 4.1. It may be necessary to move tenants temporarily whilst works are being carried out to their home. Examples of reasons for a decant include but are not limited to:
  - extensive works to multiple rooms
  - severe flood damage
  - repairs to a structurally unsafe property (for example after being struck by a vehicle or lightning) and tenants are unable to live in their home safely whilst works are being carried out
  - remedial works to address issues related to severe damp and mould
  - member of the household has a particular physical or mental health condition or vulnerability that would necessitate a temporary move to allow repair or adaptation works to proceed - in these cases the Council may seek evidence to support the need for a decant on medical reasons
2. 4.2. Where a temporary decant is needed, the Council will explain the works to be undertaken, the expected timescales for works and the process, agreeing the next steps with the tenant along with the areas the tenant would like the decant property to be located in. Consideration will be given to the personal circumstances and vulnerability of the tenant and their household to ensure that any decant property and support package which is offered by the Council is appropriate to their needs.
3. 4.3. In identifying suitable properties for a decant, the Council will use the criteria set out in both this policy and the Housing Allocations Scheme to identify suitable properties. The Council will attempt to meet a household's needs where possible but this may not always be achievable due to the urgency of the decant required.
4. 4.4. Consideration will be given to the length of time the works are estimated to take. In cases where minor works are to be undertaken or works will take less than two weeks, it will be discussed whether the tenants would want to stay with relatives or friends for the duration of the works. In cases, where the tenant is unable to stay with relatives or friends or where major works are to be undertaken or the works will take more than two weeks, the tenant will be offered a move to an alternative self contained property. This may be a static caravan, holiday home, chalet or a temporary move to another Council dwelling. If the move to another Council dwelling is offered, the tenant will be given a temporary 'Licence to Occupy' for this period and will be required to sign a separate undertaking stating that they will return to their original home once works are completed. If the tenant refuses to return to the original home, the Council will take legal action to recover possession of the temporary decant property and seek recovery of its legal costs from the tenant.
5. 4.5. If the works are substantial and scheduled for a significant period (months) and the tenant and or their household have an existing housing need to move under the Housing Allocation Scheme we will support tenants with applying for a transfer to suitable alternative accommodation which will be a permanent move.
6. 4.6. Tenants will not experience financial loss as a result of being temporarily decanted and will be offered reasonable expenses. These may include, for example, removals, storage fees, disconnection and reconnection of services, redirection of mail etc. Payment will be made following submission of receipts and or supporting evidence. Any housing-related debts owed to the Council will be deducted from this payment. The Council will advise tenants of the maximum amount which is available to meet costs, subject to evidence of costs incurred (receipts being provided to the Council).
7. 4.7. Tenants who have to temporarily decant or make a permanent move to meet their housing needs will not be eligible for a Home Loss Payment.
8. 4.8. When the Council requires a tenant to give vacant possession to enable works to be carried out to their home, the tenant will be responsible for removing all belongings. Any items left behind will be cleared and disposed of. Tenants will not be able to reclaim them, or the value of them, once they have been left in the property. Households will be advised of this in advance of the moving date. If tenants possessions are able to remain in the property during works these will be stored in the home to ensure they are not impacted by the works being undertaken. Tenants will be responsible for ensuring all possessions are covered by their own contents insurance throughout this period.
9. 4.9. When vacant possession is required, the tenant can either:
  - contact a removal company and make their own personal arrangements with them for removal with reasonable expenses being reimbursed
  - or they can undertake the move themselves. In this case, the amount the Council will pay will depend on the size of the property.
10. The above options also apply when the tenant is able to move back to their home.
11. 4.10. Each tenant asked to decant their home will be provided with a decant plan, so that the tenant and their household are aware of the timescales as well as the support that the Council will provide during the decant process. Where the tenant has a support worker, with their consent, this can be shared with the support worker.
12. 4.11. Whilst the Council will do what it can to find a decant property quickly, it will also be in the interests of tenants and their household to consider properties and areas that give a realistic chance of a decant property being found within a reasonable timescale. Where works are urgent, offers of a decant property may be made outside of a tenants preferred areas of choice.
13. 4.12. It is the responsibility of the tenant to inform all relevant persons and organisations of any temporary address, for example Council departments or DWP. The cost of mail redirection is a reasonable expenses cost.
5. Monitoring and review
1. 5.1. The Council undertakes satisfaction surveys in order to understand how processes are delivered and uses feedback to develop continuous improvement.
2. 5.2. This Policy is subject to periodic review.
3. Information about this document
  Document status
  Author Justin Gibbs
  Date June 2023
  Review Date June 2027

Document status
Author	Justin Gibbs
Date	June 2023
Review Date	June 2027

Last modified on 25 September 2025

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Social Landlord Service: Decant Policy

On this page

1. Introduction

2. Policy context

3. Scope and purpose

4. Our approach

5. Monitoring and review

Information about this document