Housing strategies, policies and consultations

While we are no longer a landlord, we still have responsibilities in relation to housing.

Meeting housing need

The council has a responsibility to meet the housing needs of all its residents and is currently developing a new Housing Strategy, which will outline how the council will achieve its responsibilities. 

Strategies and policies 

The current Housing Strategy approved in June 2022 sets our vision for housing in St Helens over the next 5 years. The main objective in the strategy is to ensure that the residents of St Helens have choices to live in a decent affordable home within a sustainable neighbourhood and where the right support is available where required.

The Housing Services section will carry out the following to meet the housing needs of the community:

• Work with Registered Providers of Social housing to provide new affordable accommodation. 
• Work with landlords to improve the standards of private rented accommodation. 
• Work with developers to provide new build housing including affordable housing when required.
• Work with specialists to provide housing for people with disabilities or in need of support.

In addition to the existing overarching Housing Strategy there are also several separate strategies in place covering specialist areas of Housing. Copies of these are available below.

Understanding the local housing market

We have worked with Halton and Warrington borough councils and commissioned a Strategic Housing Market Assessment. This document gives the council an estimate of the need and type of affordable housing it needs to provide over the forthcoming years. The St Helens Strategic Housing Market Update 2019 can be viewed at the bottom of the page.

Allocations policy/choice-based lettings

We transferred the housing stock in July 2002 but still have a legal duty to have an Allocations Policy; this is currently under review and the new policy will be implemented in 2024. . The council and Torus developed UnderOneRoof, which is the one-stop way of renting an affordable home from a registered provider in St Helens.  

Preventing homelessness

We have a duty to prevent homelessness and as such the service works to deliver good quality advice. The current Homelessness Strategy can be viewed at the bottom of the page. 

Reducing empty homes

Our Empty Homes Strategy sets out the approach and measures available to tackle this issue of empty properties in the area. These empty properties are a wasted asset, especially as there are people in housing need waiting for properties in St Helens.

Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy

If you live in rented accommodation, you should expect your home to be in good repair, warm, secure and free from health and safety hazards. There are laws available to ensure these standards are met. The current Private Sector Enforcement Policy can be viewed at the bottom of the page. 

Liverpool City Region Tenancy Strategy

We, along with the other local authorities in the Liverpool City Region, signed up to a joint tenancy strategy. This document sets out how local authorities would wish registered providers to issue tenancies to their tenants and the types of tenancies they issue.