Introduction
Castle Point Borough Council ("the Council") have designed a Council Housing Voids Policy to
Ensure the turnover of its homes is effectively managed to maximise safety and rental income, meeting housing needs that contribute to positive neighbourhoods.
A safety first approach
The Council will make sure all homes are safe and ready for someone to move into. All homes will have a gas and electric safety check. All certificates will be given to the new tenant.
The Council will also undertake an asbestos survey while the home is empty and let the new tenant know where the asbestos is in their home. Any unsafe asbestos will be removed.
Ending tenancies
All tenants are required to give 28 calendar days written notice ending their tenancy on a Sunday. Let us know if you’d like a little longer or if anything changes.
Returning keys
Keys must be returned to the Council at the Council’s offices by 10am on the Monday following the tenancy end date, or Tuesday if the Monday is a Bank Holiday.
If a key-safe has been fitted by the Council or its contractors after the ‘before moving out visit’ keys can be placed in there once you’ve moved out.
Where the keys are not returned at all, the cost of changing the locks will be recharged to the outgoing tenant. (So let us know if anything changes)
Before moving out visit
At this visit to your home, we will let you know if you need to do any work before you hand the keys back to restore the property and private garden (if there is one) to a ‘reasonable condition.
We will remind you that we will dispose of any items you leave in the property.
We will charge you for any costs we incur in bringing the property up to the required standard.
Preparing the empty home for reletting
All homes will have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), a copy will be given to the new tenant. The Council will undertake basic redecoration where required, before the property is relet.
See our full Council Housing Void Policy
See our Council Housing Void Policy Equality Impact Assessment