Residential property renting or leasing services

Tender description

This contract is for the provision of residential properties for the purposes of private sector licensing and residents with no recourse to public funds. Pursuant to Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA 2018), the Council has a statutory duty to provide accommodation to those in housing need, to prevent homelessness and to provide a range of housing options. The contractor and its properties (both furnished and unfurnished) used to discharge this duty must be in full compliance with all relevant housing standards and as contained within this specification. The contractor will be required to provide temporary accommodation and emergency and other accommodation as required to prevent homelessness on behalf of the Council. The contractor must ensure that all properties proposed to be used as temporary accommodation by the Council have full evidence that the property can be used for this purpose. Lack of evidence will be considered a material breach. Property standards at commencement and throughout occupation must ensure that the property is of reasonable occupiable standard and suitable quality and must comply with local, National and European Union regulations governing property standards and Health and Safety regulations. Families with children under 18 who have no legal rights to remain in the United Kingdom or limited rights to make claims on public funds may present to Children’s Services in Local Authorities seeking assessments where they are destitute or have insufficient funds to meet their children’s needs. The families may be failed asylum seekers, European Economic Area nationals (EEA) or visa over-stayers with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) which is a condition imposed by the UK Visas and Immigration service on a person who is subject to immigration control, giving them no entitlements to benefits or public housing. Where people are deemed to have NRPF under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and find themselves destitute. Families can apply to their local authority for support and they may turn to the Children’s Services under the following Acts: Section 17 Children Act 1989 which requires the local authority to identify and meet the needs of children in need in their local area. A destitute child will be in need and the local authority can be required to provide accommodation and subsistence to the child and their parents under this section. The contractor will be required to provide temporary accommodation and emergency and other accommodation as required to prevent homelessness on behalf of the Council. The contractor must ensure that all properties proposed to be used as temporary accommodation by the Council have full evidence that the property can be used for this purpose. Lack of evidence will be considered a material breach. Property standards at commencement and throughout occupation must ensure that the property is of reasonable occupiable standard (toilet and bathing facilities, electricity, heating, cooking, facilities, good state of repair, secure and have basic furnishing e.g. bed, chairs, table, etc.) and suitable quality and must comply with local, National and European Union regulations governing property standards and Health and Safety regulations.