What you told us and what we're doing

What we asked

We asked tenants to review the draft policy, which explains when tenants need permission before making changes to their home.

What you said

37 responses were received.

• 78% supported the policy.
• 90% found it easy to read and understand.

People told us they wanted:

• More flexibility so requests can be considered on their individual circumstances.
• Clearer information about reasonable adjustments and Equality Act duties.
• More explanation about flooring permissions.
• More information about cat flaps, CCTV and video doorbells.

What we did

We reviewed the feedback and made several changes.

We:

• Clarified that some requests would not normally be approved, rather than automatically refused.
• Added information about how disability-related needs and reasonable adjustments will be considered.
• Made the flooring section clearer.
• Clarified that cat flap requests would not normally be approved but can still be considered on an individual basis in certain circumstances.

The new policy:

• Explains when permission is needed and how applications will be assessed.
• Includes clear decision timescales.
• Explains review and appeal rights.
• Provides a more transparent and consistent approach to decision making.
• Helps protect Council housing while supporting tenants who want to improve or adapt their home.

Next steps

The Permissions Policy was approved by elected members at the meeting of the Housing and Community Safety Committee on 10 September 2026. You can read the report presented to Committee here, which contains all of the feedback and responses to comments.

The policy will start on 1 October 2026.

We'll:

• Update our procedures
• Provide staff training and guidance
• Update application forms and supporting information
• Update tenant information
• Share information through our website and Tenants' Voice newsletter

The policy will be published on our Housing Policies webpage.