Compensation scheme for council tenants considered

A new compensation policy for tenants of Sheffield City Council-owned homes where repairs have gone wrong, or other work has caused problems, is expected to be approved at a meeting later this month.

The policy is aimed at protecting tenants who have to temporarily move from their homes, or when damage has been caused to decoration or belongings, following repairs or improvements connected with the authority.

The council's Housing Service does not currently have such a compensation policy.

Under the new scheme, tenants whose homes had to be demolished under such circumstances would be entitled to 10% of the property's value, with a minimum of £8,100 and a maximum of £81,000.

A report to be considered by councillors says that under the proposed new policy, the authority would "pay home loss payments three months following the date of the claim, or from the date of the move, or from the date the market value has been agreed or finally determined, whichever is later".

However, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, under the new policy, now in its final draft, some claims would not be covered.

Those would include personal injury, provision of care and damage caused by circumstances beyond the council's control such as storm or flood damage.

Members of Sheffield City Council's housing policy committee are due to hear more about the proposed policy at a meeting on 23 January, ahead of its expected approval.

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