Housing Strategies

The Council adopts a strategic approach to affordable housing delivery and management.  The documents included on this page set out the Council's various strategies relating to affordable housing and meeting housing need.

The Affordable Housing Strategy

In October 2019 the Council adopted a new Affordable Housing Strategy  The purpose of the strategy is 'to provide more affordable homes, ensuring they are the right homes in the right places for those in need of affordable housing.'

The strategy includes three key objectives:

1. To deliver more affordable homes through the planning system
2. To ensure those homes are the right homes in the right places and that they are truly affordable for those that need them
3. To directly deliver more affordable homes by Registered Providers and Fareham Housing, especially targeting those in greater need

The approach to affordable housing delivery should also be considered alongside the Council's adopted Local Plan and relevant Supplementary Planning Document, which outline the requirements for affordable housing on development proposals.

The Fareham Housing Regeneration Strategy

In March 2021 the Council adopted the Fareham Housing Regeneration Strategy  This strategy provides information on the factors that the Council will consider when identifying and progressing regeneration and redevelopment opportunities for existing Council homes. Individual site-specific appendices will be produced when projects are identified. In November 2024, the Council approved the addition of Melvin Jones House and St Mary's Road Flats as a further appendix to the Strategy.

Identified sites:

Appendix A: Menin House, Privett Road, Fareham (Adopted March 2021) (500 KB)

Appendix B: Fort Fareham, Fort Fareham Road, Fareham (1 MB)

Appendix C: Melvin Jones House and St Mary's Road Flats, Stubbington (695 KB)

Sub-strategies and Policies

Document	Details
Adaptions Policy (134 KB)	The Social and Affordable Housing Adaptations Policy outlines the process in ensuring Council tenants with disabilities be provided with housing that best meets their assessed needs in addition to the Council meeting the relevant statutory requirements.
Allocations Policy 2019 (470 KB)	Fareham Borough Council's Allocations Policy sets out how properties are allocated and the criteria for applying for the Council's Housing Register.
Anti-Social Behaviour policy (196 KB)	Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of unacceptable activity that causes harm to an individual, to their community or to their environment.  The Policy details ASB and how the Council will tackle it.  More information and quick links are also available on our Community Safety Partnership webpage.
Damp and Mould Interim Process (199 KB)	Details the processes around reporting and actioning cases to ensure that issues of mould, damp and condensation are tackled quickly and effectively.
First Homes Interim Policy (182 KB)	First Homes is a new type of affordable home ownership.  First Homes is designed to help first time buyers who wish to get onto the property ladder but are unable to afford a home at full market value.  A First Home must be offered at a minimum of 30% discount on the market price.
The Fareham Housing Greener Policy (126 KB)	The policy provides clarity on how the Housing department will make a contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change Although the policy is not a development plan document, it is an adopted policy document of the Council and is a measure to help address climate change in relation to the Council's own housing stock.
Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy	Following an independent review, the Council adopted a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy  in March 2022.  The strategy sets out our key priorities and the actions we will take, in partnership with key partners, to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping across our Borough over the next 3 years.
Homelessness - Review of Homelessness in Fareham	Independent review of homelessness in Fareham.
Mutual Exchange Policy (458 KB) and Mutual Exchange FAQs (88 KB)	Under the Housing Act 1985, all eligible tenants of social housing have the right to exchange their tenancies with one another. This is referred to as 'mutual exchange'. The Mutual Exchange Policy provides comprehensive information regarding the mutual exchange process, the background and relevant legislation.  The accompanying FAQ document is an easy-read version summarising the process.
Right to Review Procedure (552 KB)	Details the steps a homeless applicant should take if they disagree with a decision.
Shared Ownership Policy (448 KB)	The Council has recently updated its Shared Ownership Policy and Processes document to reflect funding requirements.  This includes a First Come First Served Policy and a Minimum Monthly Surplus Income Policy. If you are interested in Shared Ownership properties by Fareham Housing, this document will explain the Council's approach to marketing, selling and management of its Shared Ownership homes.
Social Housing Rents Policy (97 KB)	This Policy details how the Council sets rent for its properties.
Tenant Engagement Strategy (available on our Tenant Engagement Strategy webpage)	At Fareham Housing we want to improve how we listen to and work with our tenants.  We have produced a document which sets out our objectives and improvement plan.