Strategic Housing

The Strategic Housing team has two main functions:

to develop housing policy within national and regional parameters, ensuring that this meets the needs of Tower Hamlets diverse communities, and that sufficient multi-tenure housing is provided to meet the needs of a changing population; and
to build excellent working relationships with central government agencies, other local authorities, housing associations, local housing managers, and the local community in order to ensure the council’s housing targets are met.

This includes management of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and monitoring Tower Hamlets Homes to ensure delivery of services to the agreed standard.

The strategy team will also manage delivery of decent homes across the borough, primarily through Tower Hamlets Homes, but also through the Tower Hamlets Housing Forum.

Independent Audit of Leashold Service Charges

Statement from the Mayor

"I am pleased to present the full and final Audit report of Beever and Struthers reviewing the processes used by the Council and THH to determine leaseholder service charges, to ensure sustained improvements in performance, greater value for money and improved satisfaction among leaseholders.

"I would stress the independent nature of the audit which has resulted in a number of challenging actions for the council and Tower Hamlets Homes, the council's ALMO.

"The council has already undertaken a number of measures to improve the service provided and Councillor Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, will seek to ensure all recommendations are drawn together in a comprehensive action plan for service improvement.

"Attached is a statement of intent, drafted by the Leaseholder Action Plan Working Group (a group comprising leaseholder representatives working with LBTH and THH officers), with whom Councillor Rabina Khan will work closely to ensure the recommendations of the audit are implemented. Once the Action plan has been formally adopted it will be available here and updated regularly to reflect progress against recommendations."

Statement of Intent (PDF 22.1kb)
Independent Audit of Leasehold Service Charges (PDF 498kb)

Papers submitted to London Borough of Tower Hamlets Cabinet regarding the Leasehold Review:

Leasehold Cabinet Report Draft (PDF 60kb)
Addendum to Cabinet Report on Leasehold Policy Review (PDF 296kb)
Alterations (PDF 183kb)
Service Charge Methodology (PDF 177kb)
Major Works (PDF 210kb)
Various (PDF 157kb)
Equality Impact Assessment (Word 246kb)

Leasehold Policy Review Consultation Summary

Leasehold Policy Review Consultation Summary (PDF 415kb)

Housing Options Appraisal

Earlier this year, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, launched a review of the way social housing is delivered and maintained in the borough, to “make sure that we offer our tenants and leaseholders the best possible service”.

The review will look at how the housing service can build on the significant improvements already made by Tower Hamlets Homes (THH), achieve best value for money, and ensure that the Decent Homes programme is delivered. More details are available in the documents below: