Action plan: Strategic housing priorities and actions
Increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes across the borough
Actions:
Provide 35% affordable housing on all private urban development sites of over 15 units (10+ units where non urban) or over half a hectare, or 20% in Central Dartford, applied in compliance with the Local Plan, and with exceptions as set out.
Ensure that a genuine variety and sustainable mix of housing is provided, particularly on larger development sites.
Main partners:
Developers, housing associations, Planning
Relieve homelessness and end rough sleeping
Actions:
Implement the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029 Action Plan.
Implement the Domestic Abuse Housing Strategy 2024-2027 Action Plan.
Review the Temporary Accommodation Strategy.
Undertake a review of the Sanctuary Scheme referral Procedure.
Main partners:
Dartford Homelessness Forum
Internal
Deliver the outcomes of the Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer and economic standards
Actions
Collect and publish annual tenant satisfaction measures
Publish an annual complaints performance and service improvement report
Set up a housing complaints panel to scrutinise complaint handling performance.
Prepare for the introduction of the Competence and Conduct Standard
Prepare for inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing
Main partners
Internal
Tenants
Improve housing conditions in the private rented sector and reduce the number of empty homes
Actions
Review the Private Sector Housing Renewal Strategy.
Prepare for the implementation of the Renters Rights Bill.
Main partners
Private sector landlords, Home Improvement Agency, other local authorities
Internal
Provide a high quality housing service and ensure our homes are well maintained
Actions
Undertake a full stock condition survey in 2025, and ensure adaptations form part of the stock condition survey.
Attain 100% decency in line with the Decent Homes Standard.
Develop a revised programme of planned works to comply with the new Decent Homes Standard once it is introduced.
Implement and comply with Awaab’s Law once the new requirements have been introduced in secondary legislation.
Set up mechanisms to monitor the compliance with Awaab’s Law and the time limits to address hazards which will be introduced through the legislation.
Complete the development of the Housing Revenue Account Housing Statutory Maintenance Compliance Policy.
Main partners
Internal
Surveying contractor
Engage with and listen to our tenants and to take their views into account when developing new housing services and policies
Actions
Consult with tenants in the development stages of new services, policies and strategies.
Consult with tenants when major changes to a policy or strategy are being proposed.
Set up mechanisms to feedback to tenants the outcome of consultations and satisfaction survey work.
Complete the review and consultation on a revised Tenancy Agreement and Tenancy Support Pack.
Main partners
Internal
Tenants
Engage meaningfully with our tenants and improve communication
Actions
Conduct the yearly tenant satisfaction measures survey and implement the feedback received.
Learn from each tenant satisfaction measures survey to increase participation year on year.
Encourage more tenants and leaseholders to become part of the DTLF.
Set up and host regular resident surgeries in various estates across the borough.
Provide regular updates to tenants via various communication channels.
Hold more frequent estate inspections and walk-arounds.
Complete a review of our current engagement and communication methods to enhance resident engagement.
Establish and put in place regular feedback mechanisms which allow residents to feedback to us and suggest improvements.
