Garage Allocations and Arrears Policy
- Users of Policy Colchester City Council and Colchester City Homes tenants and staff.
Date Adopted: November 2003
Date last Reviewed: June 2022
Review Frequency: Every 3 years
Best Before Date: 30 June 2025
Scheme of Delegation
Formation of Policy: Portfolio Holder(s) with delegated responsibility for the Financial Management of the Housing Revenue AccountAmendments: Portfolio Holder(s) with delegated responsibility for the Financial Management of the Housing Revenue Account
Monitoring: Client Services Manager
Implementation: Strategic Client for Asset Management delegated to CBH Director of Operations, Head of Housing Management.
1. Aims of Policy
1.1 The aim of the policy is to set out the allocation priority for council garages to ensure this is applied consistently and fairly.
1.2 The Council owns several garage sites across the city which provide rental income.
1.3 The letting of garages is administered by Colchester Borough Homes who are also responsible for collecting the rent, chasing debts, and repossessing garages where necessary.
1.2 The Council owns several garage sites across the city which provide rental income.
1.3 The letting of garages is administered by Colchester Borough Homes who are also responsible for collecting the rent, chasing debts, and repossessing garages where necessary.
2. Allocations
2.1 Where there is more than one applicant Council garages will be allocated in
the following priority order:
the following priority order:
Priority 1 Disabled applicants with restricted mobility (blue badge holder/in receipt of higher rate component of DLA), regardless of whether they are a council tenant or private householder applying for their first garage or transferring from an existing garage. VAT is chargeable for non-tenants/leaseholders.
Priority 2 Colchester City Council tenants and leaseholders applying for their first garage or transferring from an existing garage (without any rent or service charge arrears)
Priority 3 Tenant/Leaseholder households (VAT charged)
Priority 4 Non-tenants/Leaseholders (VAT charged)
Priority 5 Anyone applying for a second or subsequent garage
2.2 Where there is more than one applicant in a priority group, the application date will be used to determine the allocation.
2.3 Excluded categories:
- Council tenants and leaseholders will not be allocated a garage if they have arrears of rent or service charges.
- Anyone with a Former Tenant Arrear for a previous garage or debts outstanding with CBC
2.4 In exceptional circumstances and following approval from the Housing Manager, the Council reserves the right to allocate garages outside of the priority groups listed.
2.5 The term “disabled applicant” means that either the applicant or a member of their household is a blue badge holder or in receipt of the higher rate mobility component DLA.
2.6 Disabled applicants are given priority for the following reasons:
2.5 The term “disabled applicant” means that either the applicant or a member of their household is a blue badge holder or in receipt of the higher rate mobility component DLA.
2.6 Disabled applicants are given priority for the following reasons:
- If they are not given a high priority, in areas of high demand, they are less likely to be allocated a garage near to their home.
- If a disabled person’s car is stolen or damaged, the impact on that person is likely to be greater than for an able-bodied person.
2.7 Council tenants and leaseholders are given priority for the following reasons:
- Council garages were originally built for use by council tenants living in the vicinity.
- They are maintained at the expense of the Housing Revenue Account, and the rents are low.
- Tenants living in social housing are less likely to be able to afford to rent a garage in the private sector.
2.8 All new garage tenants are required to pay 4 weeks rent in advance. VAT is payable on any garage let to anyone other than a council housing tenant who rents the garage in connection with the occupation of their home and is payable by a council housing tenant if they use the garage solely for
storage.
2.9 Garage rents must be paid by Direct Debit (for new lettings with effect from April 2022) and any council tenant in rent arrears on their property will be refused a garage on these grounds.
storage.
2.9 Garage rents must be paid by Direct Debit (for new lettings with effect from April 2022) and any council tenant in rent arrears on their property will be refused a garage on these grounds.
3. Garage Use and Arrears
3.1 Garages are let in accordance with the Council’s garage tenancy conditions.
3.2 Garages may be used for storage in accordance with the Council’s garage tenancy conditions with the tenant responsible for taking their own insurance to cover their possessions.
3.3 If the rent is not paid then a warning letter will be sent. If the account is not cleared, contact will be made to discuss the circumstances. If a satisfactory outcome cannot be agreed (or any arrangement subsequently broken) a Notice to Quit (NTQ) will be served and the tenancy ended.
3.4 When the NTQ is served a section 41 local government (miscellaneous provisions) act 1982 notice will be served in case any goods or possessions are left in the garage, giving 28 days to clear the items. If, on expiry of the notice, the items have not been cleared Colchester Borough Homes will
dispose of them and recover the costs of disposal as an additional recharge.
3.2 Garages may be used for storage in accordance with the Council’s garage tenancy conditions with the tenant responsible for taking their own insurance to cover their possessions.
3.3 If the rent is not paid then a warning letter will be sent. If the account is not cleared, contact will be made to discuss the circumstances. If a satisfactory outcome cannot be agreed (or any arrangement subsequently broken) a Notice to Quit (NTQ) will be served and the tenancy ended.
3.4 When the NTQ is served a section 41 local government (miscellaneous provisions) act 1982 notice will be served in case any goods or possessions are left in the garage, giving 28 days to clear the items. If, on expiry of the notice, the items have not been cleared Colchester Borough Homes will
dispose of them and recover the costs of disposal as an additional recharge.
3.5 Should the tenant make contact and wish to continue renting the garage after the locks have been changed there will be an additional charge for the lock change, an administration charge of £25 and full clearance of the arrear before the request is granted. The decision will be at the discretion of the
Garage Officer/New Tenancy Manager.
Garage Officer/New Tenancy Manager.
4. Delegated Responsibilities and Authority
4.1 The Director of Operations and Head of Housing Management have the delegated responsibility to ensure that this policy is applied in respect of every garage applicant and to ensure that any procedural changes are in accordance with this policy.
4.2 The Housing Managers have the delegated responsibility for decision making in cases where there are exceptional circumstances.
4.2 The Housing Managers have the delegated responsibility for decision making in cases where there are exceptional circumstances.
5. Communicating the Policy to Staff
5.1 Managers and staff involved in the implementation of the Policy will receive a copy of the policy including: Housing Officers, Visiting Officers, Customers Services.
5.2 Colchester Borough Homes will provide sufficient training to enable staff to understand and comply with the Policy.
5.3 A copy of the Policy will be published on Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes websites.
5.4 Any amendments to the Policy will be communicated, in a timely manner, to managers and staff involved in implementing the policy.
5.2 Colchester Borough Homes will provide sufficient training to enable staff to understand and comply with the Policy.
5.3 A copy of the Policy will be published on Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes websites.
5.4 Any amendments to the Policy will be communicated, in a timely manner, to managers and staff involved in implementing the policy.
6. Communicating the policy to customers
6.1 The policy will be communicated to customers using the following methods:
- Articles in Housing News and Views
- Sheltered Scheme newsletters
- Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes websites
- Social Media
Page last reviewed: 9 June 2022