Luton Borough Council
Operational policies
Our housing policies and guidance are listed here by subject.
On this page...
Managing your tenancy
The Luton Council tenants handbook outlines your rights and responsibilities, including rent, repairs and dealing with antisocial behaviour. Other policies and guidance are listed below.
- Adaptations to council properties: outlines the commitments and expectations related to the adaption process for council properties.
- Antisocial behaviour policy: sets out how the council prevent, respond to, and manage anti-social behaviour within their properties and neighbourhoods.
- General explanation of service charges: explains service charges for leasholders, detailing:
- what these charges cover
- how charges are calculated
- responsibilities of both the council and leasholders
- Lease - extensions guide: provides information to leaseholders about lease extensions.
- Income management and arrears prevention policy: sets out how the council balances efficient rent collection with tenant support and legal compliance to prevent arrears.
- Leasehold-handbook: outlines the rights and responsibilities of leaseholders.
- Tenancy changes policy explains how tenancy details can be updated. This includes:
- adding or removing tenants
- changing personal information
- updating who lives in the home
- Tenancy self service help and guidance: outlines procedures and guidelines for tenants to manage their tenancy effectively through self-service options.
- Rent arrears policy: outlines our approach for preventing and managing rent arrears.
- Repairs policy: sets out who handles different types of repairs, how quickly they are done and what standards apply.
- Succession policy: outlines who can legally continue a tenancy after the tenant’s death.
Your rights and responsibilities
- Housing compensation policy: ensures we have a fair and consistent approach to offering redress and awarding compensation where we fall beneath these standards.
- Discretionary housing payments policy: ensures that discretionary housing payments:
- contribute to our aims and objectives
- promote social and financial inclusion for our residents
- do not subsidise poor or inappropriate accommodation
- HMO standards: sets out the legal framework for houses of multiple occupation and gives guidance on the standards adopted in this local authority area:
- living space
- amenities
- fire safety
- management
- Right to compensation improvement: helps you to understand:
- your rights
- the procedures involved in claiming compensation for improvements made to your council home
Allocations and ownership
- Building insurance policy 2024-25: a summary of the significant features, benefits and limitations of the cover provided to 'right to buy' leaseholders by Zurich Municipal’s select property module.
- Choice based lettings allocations policy: this policy aims to:
- simplify existing allocations procedures
- provide an open and transparent service to applicants
- provide applicants with as much choice as possible where they live
- Gypsy and traveller and travelling showman accommodation needs assessment – addendum to 2015 final report – January 2016
- Housing allocations policy: sets out:
- how we'll assess your eligibility for housing
- housing needs
- the types of property you can apply for
- Housing market areas in Bedfordshire and surrounding areas
- Shared ownership policy: outlines our approach to:
- the development, sales and management of shared-ownership homes
- offering existing tenants the opportunity to buy their home on a shared-ownership basis
- Temporary accommodation allocations process: sets out our process for the placement of households in temporary accommodation both in and out of the borough.
Homelessness
- Care leavers homelessness advice pack: aimed at supporting young people transitioning from care into independant living, particulary those at risk of homelessness.
- Homelessness and domestic abuse advice pack 2025: help and advice if you're experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness due to domestic abuse.
- Homelessness statutory duties advice pack: guides you through the homelessness process, with information about your rights and the support available to you.
- Rough sleeping advice pack: provides information on how to access the available support services if you are experiencing, or at risk of, rough sleeping in Luton.
Improving health and wellbeing
- Domestic abuse policy: helps individuals by setting out how the council will identify, support, and protect survivors of domestic abuse.
- Housing domestic abuse policy: aims to provide an appropriate and effective response to domestic abuse.
- Mental health and homelessness advice pack 2025: provides practical guidance and support for individuals facing mental health challanges and homelessness in Luton.
- Private sector housing assistance policy: sets out what assistance we're able to offer to improve the health and wellbeing and quality of life of our residents.
Safety and standards
- Asbestos policy and management plan
- Controlling condensation and mould: provides practical advice for tenants and homeowners on how to prevent and manage condensation and mould in their homes.
- Damp and mould condensation policy: outlines how the council address damp, mould and condensation issues with new regulations like Awaab's Law.
- Electrical safety policy
- Estate management policy: outlines how the council maintains communal areas, open space and shared facilities that ensures safe and clean.
- Fire safety handbook: what to do if a fire happens in another part of the block or in your home.
- Fire safety high rise living: this guide is designed to inform residents of high-rise buildings about fire safety measures and responsibilities.
- Lettings and voids leaflet: provides new tenants with essential information about the condition and standards of their new council property before moving in.
- Smoke alarm testing procedure: ensures that we provide our customers with the highest levels of assurance and safety regarding the maintenance of hard wired smoke alarms.
Energy efficiency
- Energy grants: guidance on accessing energy efficieny grants.
- Enforcement of the domestic minimum level of energy efficiency: outlines our approach to enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for privately rented properties.
- Housing net zero sustainability guidance: outlines our approach to achieving net zero carbon emissions in our housing developments.
- Installers guidance: outlines the requirements and procedures for installer companies wishing to particapete in our energy efficieny grant schemes.
- Stay warm for less: provides information on reduce your energy bills and staying warm during the colder months.
- Statement of intent v1: sets out our flexible eligibility criteria for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme from April 2022 to March 2026.
- Statement of intent v2: sets out our flexible eligibility criteria for the ECO4 scheme from April 2022 to March 2026.
- Statement of intent v3: sets out our flexible eligibility criteria for the ECO4 and Great British Insulation schemes which run until March 2026.
Advice and support
- Help with digital skills: help to access support and training to enhance digital skills.
- Money management: assisting residents in managing their finances effectively.
- Tenant engagement policy: explains how tenants can actively take part in shaping housing services.
- Vulnerability and inclusive services policy: explain how the council supports tenants who may need extra help. It sets out how services are made fair, accessible, and responsive to challenges such as disability, health issues or financial hardship.
Enforcement
- Civil penalties and rent repayment orders policy: this policy will be used as an alternative to prosecution and rent repayment orders for certain offences relating to Housing Act 2004 and the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
- Luton and Central Bedfordshire strategic housing market assessment 2015: provides a detailed guidance on the implementation of affordable housing policies within the planning framework.
- Private sector housing enforcement policy: covers all council-owned properties for which we hold a maintenance responsibility. It sets out how we address hazards in private homes and ensures fair enforcement of our duties.
Guidance for landlords and property agents
- Additional licensing Q and A: provides answers to common questions regarding the our additional Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme.
- Designation of an area for selective licensing 2023
- Health and safety rating system guide: guidance to help landlords understand and comply with the housing health and safety rating system.
- HMO questions and answers: addresses common queries from landlords, tenants and other stakeholders regarding HMO licensing.
- Guidance on property sales and lettings: guidance to help property agents operate within legal framework and maintain high standards of practice.
- Licensing fees for self-contained flats - additional licensing: outlines the obligations and procedural steps requried to comply with the additional licensing scheme for self-contained flats.
- Licensing fees for self contained flats - selective licensing: outlines the specific fees associated with the selective licensing of self-contained flats within designated areas of Luton.
- Licensing of HMOs - a guide for landlords and managers: provides essential information for landlords and managers about the requirements for licensing HMOs in England.
- Promoting smoke-free housing: advice for landlords and housing associations on how to create smoke-free environments in their properties.
© 2025 Luton Council, Town Hall, Luton LU1 2BQ