Question 5 What are your views on alternative proposals for renting properties to their previous owners? This, at first, appears a better option than the ‘sale and rent back’ scheme considered above. After all, in this instance, the anticipated type of tenancy is described. Whether an assured shorthold tenancy offers individuals security of tenure is debatable, and it certainly does little to maintain community cohesion. 51m is also concerned that this scheme only assists a small number of homeowners and fails to address the overall general blight problem created by HS2. Once more restrictions apply to landlords, larger businesses and second home owners. The biggest difference between the two rental options (Questions 4 and 5) is the form of lease to be offered. In the scheme restricted to properties for demolition the Government is prepared to give an assurance that it will serve notice on the tenant only in certain circumstances, with the assumption being that the former owner will stay in the property until it needs to be demolished, it becomes certain that it will not be demolished, or the rental becomes uneconomic. In the alternative approach the Government plans to assured shorthold leases ‘use standard and commercial management the security of the tenancy is less assured. practices’, meaning A further important aspect is the Crichel Down rules that must be applied to all homes in the safeguarded area. Summary 51m believes that alternative proposals for renting properties to previous owners: Is a prescriptive approach using standard methodologies Fails to address the general blight created by HS2 Must include rigorous application of the Crichel Down rules Question 6 What are your views on proposals for a voluntary purchase scheme within a ‘rural support zone’? The Government suggests that properties close to the line, but outside the safeguarding area, may become difficult to sell. It therefore proposes a ‘rural support zone’ for properties in rural areas, up to 120m from the line. This is apparently based on experience
Question 5 What are your views on alternative proposals for renting properties to their previous owners? This, at first, appears a better option than the ‘sale and rent back’ scheme considered above. After all, in this instance, the anticipated type of tenancy is described. Whether an assured shorthold tenancy offers individuals security of tenure is debatable, and it certainly does little to maintain community cohesion. 51m is also concerned that this scheme only assists a small number of homeowners and fails to address the overall general blight problem created by HS2. Once more restrictions apply to landlords, larger businesses and second home owners. The biggest difference between the two rental options (Questions 4 and 5) is the form of lease to be offered. In the scheme restricted to properties for demolition the Government is prepared to give an assurance that it will serve notice on the tenant only in certain circumstances, with the assumption being that the former owner will stay in the property until it needs to be demolished, it becomes certain that it will not be demolished, or the rental becomes uneconomic. In the alternative approach the Government plans to ‘use standard assured shorthold leases and commercial management practices’, meaning the security of the tenancy is less assured. A further important aspect is the Crichel Down rules that must be applied to all homes in the safeguarded area. Summary 51m believes that alternative proposals for renting properties to previous owners: Is a prescriptive approach using standard methodologies Fails to address the general blight created by HS2 Must include rigorous application of the Crichel Down rules Question 6 What are your views on proposals for a voluntary purchase scheme within a ‘rural support zone’? The Government suggests that properties close to the line, but outside the safeguarding area, may become difficult to sell. It therefore proposes a ‘rural support zone’ for properties in rural areas, up to 120m from the line. This is apparently based on experience
51m-Final-Draft-Property-Compensation-Consultation.docx