From April this year, Hounslow Council will offer secure lifetime tenancies for all its council tenants – offering stability and security for Hounslow residents.
Published: Friday, 4th April 2025
This replaces the current five-year flexible tenancies and gives thousands of Council tenants the ability to establish a home for life.
In October 2024, the Council launched a consultation that asked residents their views on moving to lifetime tenancies. The proposals were overwhelmingly endorsed with the majority of participants expressing that flexible five-year tenancies provided no meaningful benefits.
Introductory tenancies, which allow for a 12-month period in which tenants can raise any problems faced in their residence, will be retained to address tenancy issues.
The move to lifetime tenancies is also expected to reduce the bureaucratic burden on housing officers, enabling them to focus more on critical areas of housing management that directly impact residents.
Councillor Sue Sampson, Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Homelessness at Hounslow Council said “The switch will provide peace of mind to many of our residents, while reducing legal complexities, making the process smoother for both tenants and housing officers. It will also provide better value for money and enhance the overall housing experience for tenants. These changes are part of our wider ambition to improve housing for all residents – making it easier to use our services.”
