THE city council is bringing in lifetime tenancies for all council tenants after its previous strategy of flexible, fixed-term, agreements resulted in limited success in freeing-up homes.

Westminster City Council said all new and existing tenants will be granted secure lifetime tenancies over the next year and urged housing providers to take a similar approach.

The policy change follows a public consultation in March that overwhelmingly backed the move.

The decision was approved by council leader Adam Hug (above) on May 29.

He said: “We’re giving our residents the long-term security they deserve.

“A safe, stable, home is the foundation for building a stronger community and this change ensures tenants can plan for their futures with peace of mind.

“There will be no changes to rent, tenancy rights, or the services residents receive and the council will work with tenants to ensure a smooth transition.”

Since 2013 tenants have been placed on a flexible, fixed-term, tenancy, reviewed every five years.

The council said this was meant to enable a more efficient use of social housing stock and address under-occupation, partly by ensuring those who no longer needed social housing were not living there for years after they should have moved elsewhere.

Leader of the Conservative opposition, Cllr Paul Swaddle, said: “This is not right. Council housing is needed to support the most in need, and should be prioritised.”

The city council said the shift will offer tenants greater stability by providing them with a long-term home that they can rely on.

It has also proposed maintaining existing rent levels, tenancy rights, and housing services.

A council spokesperson said the authority already has the powers it needs to take action and end tenancies if they deem someone no longer qualifies, and this will not be impacted by the introduction of lifetime tenancies.

There is nothing in law or its tenancy agreements covering income thresholds for existing secure tenants, flexible or otherwise.

It comes as The Renters’ Rights Bill proposes axing shorthold tenancies.

If enacted, this will prevent housing providers from offering flexible, fixed-term, tenancies.

The council said many providers have already ditched them.

Westminster city has approximately 28,000 social-rent homes, according to a council document.

More than half of these are owned by housing associations.

Demand for social housing is high with 5,200 households on the waiting list but only around 700 lettings available each year.

The majority of people on the list are homeless, and homelessness continues to rise across Westminster and the capital.