Housing Strategies and Policies
The Housing Strategy
The Somerset Housing Strategy (2019 – 2023) recognises that everyone needs a safe and settled home and that this is essential to our health and wellbeing. The strategy sets out our plans for continuing the delivery of housing and effective management and related services. It contains several measures to deliver its priorities and to ensure that we have sufficient resources to improve the homes we have and to build more affordable housing.
Please note: This strategy has been extended until March 2025.
The Housing Enforcement Policy
The Housing Enforcement Policy explains how the council will use its powers to ensure that residents live in safe and healthy homes. This policy describes how we will work with landlords and property owners, when we will use informal and formal enforcement and the sanctions available for non-compliance. The policy includes the Financial Penalty Policy under the Housing and Planning Act, Statement of Principles for determining a penalty charge under the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm regulations and property redress scheme and Enforcement of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.
The Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy
The Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy (2025 – 2030) sets out our vision for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in Somerset. All local authorities are required to produce a Homelessness Strategy which must set out plans for preventing homelessness and ensuring that sufficient accommodation and support is and will be available for people who are or may become homeless.
The Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy high-level action plan will ensure delivery of the three principles within the strategy:
- Early help and prevention
- Ending rough sleeping
- Suitable and affordable accommodation and support
The action plan will be delivered through four action groups. These are:
- Improving data insight: Improve how data about people who are homeless or rough sleeping is recorded, making it easier for teams to identify gaps in service provision and spot trends in data.
- Ending rough sleeping: Prevent rough sleeping by offering creative accommodation solutions and helping people to transition into permanent accommodation sooner.
- Access to accommodation for all: Collaborate with Housing teams to provide more affordable and accessible accommodation in Somerset which is tailored to residents’ needs.
- Improving prevention: Identify people at risk of homelessness earlier and help them to stay in their homes where possible or move to alternative long-term housing.
These aims can also be found on Somerset Homelessness Reduction Board – Homelessness Charter page, which outlines our strategic goals and actionable steps, focusing on prevention, intervention, and sustained support. It is built upon evidence-based practices and the invaluable input of those with lived experiences of homelessness.
Related documents:
- Appendix B1 – Glossary
- Appendix B2 – Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeping – Consultation Document
- Appendix B3 – Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy – Consultation Response Summary
- Appendix B4 – Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy – Equalities Impact Assessment
- Appendix B5 – Creative Solutions cost and journey mapping
The Homefinder Somerset Policy
The Homefinder Somerset Policy is a statutory requirement. Every housing authority must have an allocations scheme to determine housing priorities, and a procedure to be followed when allocating social housing.
The Private Rented Sector Policy
The Private Rented Sector Offer Policy details how Somerset Council can bring its statutory housing duty under section 193(2) of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) to an end, by making an offer of a private rented sector tenancy rather than a social housing tenancy.
The Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Allocation Policy
The Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Allocation Policy outlines how Somerset Council owned sites are allocated.
The Hinkley Housing Strategy
The Hinkley Housing Strategy (2019-2023) outlines how funding from EDF will be used to mitigate the impact of the Hinkley Point C (HPC) project. The construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor is one of the largest construction projects in Europe, employing (at peak) 8,000+ workers on site. Peak construction is estimated to occur during 2023. Most of the workers are not Somerset residents, and so there is an impact on the local housing market as workers seek accommodation, particularly in the private rented sector. These pressures have been building since construction commenced and have resulted in predicted effects such as limiting availability of accommodation for residents, exacerbating rentals, and in some instances, the displacement of current tenants.
Eco Flexibly Eligibility
The Eco Flex Statement of Intent (SoI) directs ECO funding to eligible households within Somerset. This includes low income and vulnerable residents in the private sector, living either in fuel poverty or living on a low income and who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold. The SoI has been updated in accordance with the ECO 4 scheme and is administered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE).
Unlawful Evictions and Harassment Policy
The Unlawful Evictions and Harassment Policy helps identify and ensure a fast, clear and co-ordinated response to cases of harassment and unlawful eviction. The council will work with landlords and tenants to ensure that the practice of unlawful eviction and harassment are eradicated across Somerset. Unlawful eviction is normally prevented through mediation with the landlord, but the council will take enforcement action against any landlord or their agent where it is deemed appropriate to do so.
The Somerset Housing Assistance Policy
The Somerset Housing Assistance Policy (2023 – 2028) sets out how the council will offer financial help for improving and adapting homes in Somerset, together with the conditions and eligibility criteria associated with each type of assistance. The policy demonstrates the councils commitment to delivering decent, good quality homes in order to provide a wider choice of housing options to local residents. The council recognises that maintaining and improving the private sector stock reduces the pressure on other areas such as social housing. The policy aims to support disabled adults, children and other residents to improve their health and wellbeing by addressing problems with unsuitable homes that do not meet their needs.