Leader's blog w/c 3 November 2025

“Last week, new national data was published showing levels of deprivation across England. Stroud ranked in the bottom quartile for access to housing and essential services - meaning many people here face significant challenges in finding affordable homes or accessing things like schools, GP surgeries and shops. This week’s Housing Committee progresses some of the action that we are taking to improve housing in our district.  We will be discussing the redevelopment of our site in Stinchcombe where we are planning to increase our housing stock by approximately a dozen homes. These will be built to the highest energy efficiency standards and be highly accessible to those with disabilities. These homes are part of our programme to build 93 homes in the next two years. We have also agreed to purchase 30 new homes over the next two years in addition to the four we purchased last month.

We will also be discussing and approving our Neighbours and Community Strategy and our services standards which we have co-developed with our tenants.

On a national level, the long-anticipated Renters’ Rights Act was passed last month, although it has not yet come into effect. When implemented - hopefully early next year - this will: ban `no fault’ evictions under Section 21; limit rent increases; convert fixed term Assured Shorthold Tenancies to rolling contracts and; limit the size of deposits. This is the most important piece of housing legislation in decades and will redress the power imbalance that many renters face in their dealings with their landlords. It will protect them, and landlords who do the right thing, from the small number of unscrupulous landlords around the country.  We look forward to its implementation and our staff have been busily preparing for it.

As we get closer to winter it is a good time for our tenants to test their heating so that if it does need repairs then we came get it fixed quickly before it gets really cold.”

Cllr Gary Luff, Chair of Housing Committee.