Council home tenants facing ban from smoking when workers visit
Council tenants in Sandwell could soon be banned from smoking when workers visit their houses or face losing their homes.
Councillors are being urged to consider a range of new conditions on rented properties, which tenants will have to abide by.
They include banning Tasers and stun guns, illegally abstracting electricity, benefit fraud, cultivation of drugs and the dumping of rubbish in communal areas.
Tenants who fail to comply with the tenancy agreements could face losing their homes.
Restrictions
Other changes being suggested include restricting succession rights to spouses, civil partners and common law partners.
Controversially officers have also suggested stopping householders from smoking when council employees or contractors visit homes.
But the council has said the new condition will not amount to a complete ban.
The changes are being put forward by housing officers following a review of existing agreements.
Alan Caddick, director of housing and communities, explaining the reasons for the amendments in a report to councillors said: “Effective tenancy conditions will contribute to increased tenancy sustainability that in turn will allow the council's housing stock asset to be managed more effectively and efficiently.”
Sandwell manages 29,000 homes – around 40 per cent of which are high rise – and has already consulted tenant management organisations about the proposals.
Duty of care
Councillor Joanne Hadley, the cabinet member for homes explained the reasons for the smoking ban.
She said: “We have a duty of care to our staff and we want to ensure they are not exposed to smoking when they visit tenants in their homes.
“This would not be a ban on tenants smoking in their homes, this is common practice and we’re not the first council to propose similar restrictions on tenants smoking while staff are carrying out repairs or visiting.
“It’s one of a number of changes we’re proposing to tenancy agreements.
“There will be a consultation with tenants, councillors and other stakeholders and any changes to tenancy agreements will go to cabinet for final approval. We aim to have new tenancy agreement in place by April 2020.”
