Westminster’s Tenancy Strategy and Policy: Moving to secure, lifetime tenancies
Following our consultation in March 2025, Westminster City Council is updating its Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy to promote greater security for tenants and stronger communities.
We consulted on two related but distinct areas:
- A Tenancy Strategy for Westminster – This sets out our position as a Council on the types of tenancies we encourage all social landlords in the borough to use.
- A Tenancy Policy for Westminster City Council – This outlines the types of tenancies we will offer as a social landlord.
What you told us
- 86% of respondents supported the Tenancy Strategy proposals and believe that all social landlords should offer more permanent tenancies to their tenants.
- 84% of Westminster City Council tenants said they supported our proposal to offer secure, lifetime tenancies.
This shows clear support for more secure, long-term housing across Westminster
What this means
As a result of your feedback:
- The Council will no longer recommend fixed-term tenancies in the borough’s Tenancy Strategy and will instead encourage all social landlords to offer secure, lifetime tenancies.
- Westminster City Council will offer secure, lifetime tenancies to all new council tenants, following a 12-month introductory tenancy.
- Existing council tenants on flexible fixed-term tenancies will be offered the chance to convert to a secure tenancy before their current tenancy ends.
You can read the full details in the updated documents below:
Next steps
Between now and March 2026, we’ll be reaching out to all Westminster City Council tenants with flexible tenancies to talk about moving them to a secure lifetime tenancy. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your housing officer on 0800 3583783 or housing.enquiries@westminster.gov.uk.
In summary
Here’s a summary of what you told us during the consultation and how we’re responding:
| What you told us | What we’re doing |
|---|---|
| What you told us Lifetime tenancies offer greater security and promote stronger communities | What we’re doing The new tenancy strategy and tenancy policy supports lifetime tenancies. Westminster council will offer lifetime tenancies to all new tenants (after an introductory tenancy) and existing tenants, to promote fairness and give more people the stability they need to build strong, connected communities.
Registered providers working in Westminster will also be encouraged to grant Secure Lifetime Tenancies |
| What you told us It feels unfair that some tenants have secure lifetime tenancies while others do not | |
| What you told us Everyone on a flexible tenancy should have the same level of security | |
| What you told us Secure lifetime tenancies make it harder for the council to evict tenants who cause ASB / Crime | What we’re doing The proposed change will not affect the Council's powers or approach to addressing anti-social behaviour or other tenancy breaches. Where there is a breach, including incidents of anti-social behaviour the council retains the power to take enforcement action which can include possession proceedings |
| What you told us There are worries about larger homes not being freed up when children move out. | What we’re doing We will continue to make best use of our housing stock, including encouraging downsizing through incentive schemes and ongoing support for under-occupying households |
| What you told us There will be reduced access to social rented properties for those most in need. | What we’re doing The issue of affordable social housing is a supply challenge and has been highlighted in the new tenancy strategy. The council as part of its Fairer Westminster Strategy is actively building more council properties and aiming to increase affordable housing options for residents. The development of large regeneration projects, such as Ebury Bridge and Church Street schemes will help to support with increasing supply with a significant portion of builds for social rent |
| What you told us Secure tenancies could increase the risk of subletting and tenancy fraud. | What we’re doing Our tenancy fraud team will continue to investigate and take action against illegal subletting and tenancy fraud to protect social housing for those who need it most |
| What you told us Secure lifetime tenancies reduce tenant mobility | What we’re doing The tenancy type does not limit a tenant’s ability to move as both lifetime and flexible fixed term tenancies have the same options for moving which include mutual exchanges, transfer applications or the surrendering of their tenancy should they wish to pursue privately rented or home ownership options |
| What you told us Lack of checks and secure lifetime tenancies can lead to abuse of the system | What we’re doing While concerns about potential misuse of secure lifetime tenancies are understood, there are strong tenancy management processes in place with clear enforcement actions to help manage tenancy breaches and safeguard these issues including tenancy audits and home visits |
| What you told us There should be regular income assessments to ensure fairness | What we’re doing The Tenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy aims are to provide stability and long-term security for residents and is not intended to be a temporary housing solution |
| What you told us A probationary period should be introduced before offering a secure lifetime tenancy | What we’re doing The council will continue to offer introductory tenancies to new tenants before a secure lifetime tenancy is provided. This provides the appropriate period to support new tenants, address any early tenancy issues and ensure responsibilities are understood |
Who took part in the survey
- 97% of respondents were residents, of which
- 69% of respondents were residents on flexible tenancies
- 23% were lifetime tenants
- 8% were tenants on introductory tenancies
- 1 in 10 respondents told us they were on the housing register
