Your Home

You may be asked to move to another property (decant) if:

• there is a fire, flood or other emergency incidents affecting your home
• major repairs are needed where it is unreasonable and/or unsafe for you to remain in your home
• extensive improvements or refurbishment projects are needed in your home
• Emergency Hazards under Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 (also known as Awaab's Law) that cannot be made safe within 24 hours
• we demolish your home for redevelopment

Where we have identified an emergency incident or Emergency Hazard, you must move out of the property. This is for your own safety.

Fire, flood or other emergency incidents

If an emergency incident makes living in your home difficult or unreasonable, you should contact us immediately.

We will inspect your home to assess the extent of the problem and determine whether a move is appropriate.

After taking account of your household details and any special requirements, such as adaptations for disability, we will seek to find you suitable alternative accommodation whilst your home is being repaired.

You may be asked to stay in temporary accommodation provided by us, or in a property from within our housing stock. Alternatively, it may be more convenient for you to stay with family or friends.

We will provide advice and assistance on storing, moving or disposing of furniture, claiming from your insurance policy, the timetable of repairs to be carried out and an estimated moving back date.

Major Repairs

Major repairs could include such things as subsidence and under-pinning works, chemical damp proof course work, staircase renewal, extensive structural repairs, significant damp and mould treatment and in some instances licenced asbestos removal.

In most cases you will have to move out of your home taking your furniture and belongings with you. If these belongings need storing, we will work with you to arrange this. We will pay for the removal and storage of furniture and other reasonable costs.

We can also:

• arrange disconnection and reconnection of gas and electric cookers
• arrange disconnection and reconnection of your washing machine
• pay reasonable expenses incurred for redirection of mail

We will seek to find you suitable alternative accommodation whilst your home is being repaired.

You may be asked to stay in temporary accommodation provided by us, but where possible you will be offered alternative accommodation within our housing stock on a temporary basis.

Alternatively, it may be more convenient for you to stay with family and friends.

For temporary moves to and from your home reasonable expenses will be paid but statutory home loss compensation is not payable.

Major improvement or refurbishment work

This work will be known about in advance, and as a tenant you will be involved in the consultation process.

If improvement or refurbishment of your home is extensive, you may be moved into temporary accommodation or an alternative council owned property for your own safety. Alternatively, it may be more convenient for you to stay with family and friends.

You will be entitled to the same assistance as detailed in the major repairs section.

Reasonable expenses will be paid for temporary moves to and from your home, but statutory home loss compensation is not payable.

Development projects

Occasionally properties need to be demolished to make way for new homes. This will be known about in advance and tenants will be consulted. In such cases, you will usually be re-housed permanently. In such situations we will help you find a suitable alternative home. You will also be eligible for the statutory home loss payment in addition to reasonable relocation expenses.

Depending on what new homes are planned, you may be offered the chance to return once they are completed. This will be discussed during the consultation process.

Rent payments

In cases where we ask you to move to another property temporarily whilst work is carried out on your home, you will only be liable for rental payments on one property.

In most cases, we will charge you the lowest rent - for example, if the property to which you are asked to move has a higher rent than your permanent home, you will only be charged your original rent.

Home loss payment (permanent moves only)

Home loss is a statutory payment for those who are required to permanently leave their home. It does not apply for instances like flood, fire or other emergency incidents if you are able to return to your home.

The fixed sum is payable (which is regularly reviewed) in addition to the disconnection and reconnection of washing machines, cookers and other services and any reasonable relocation expenses.

The sum is designed to go towards certain costs things like carpets and curtains.

To qualify for this payment, you must have been the secure tenant for the last 12 months and may not return to the property once you have moved out.