Answering Your Questions

Why is The Crown Estate considering this proposal?

The Crown Estate is considering this proposal because it has a duty to maintain and enhance the value of the land and properties it owns and the income they generate for UK taxpayers. A recent review of some of our residential estates suggests we should consider whether this could be better achieved through the sale of the properties to a focused provider of this type of housing with a greater scale of housing management expertise.

The Crown Estate is not a focused housing provider. We manage a wide variety of properties and land, from rural estates to public parks, from commercial areas like Regent Street to the UK seabed. In terms of residential housing of this type, the number of properties we manage is small in size compared to other housing providers. Consequently, we do not have the same scale of housing management expertise.

Would the proposal affect rent policy?

If the proposal is adopted, the rental framework that is currently in place would be transferred to the new owners.

• For residents on ‘regulated tenancies’, rent levels are ultimately determined by the Rent Officer. This would not change.
• Some residents’ rent levels are currently subject to a ‘ceiling’ rent – a maximum possible rent as a percentage of the market rent. This would also not change.

This does not mean that rents could not or would not increase, just as The Crown Estate has increased rental levels over time. It does mean, however, that the rental framework and policies would stay in place under a new owner.

What changes might happen?

The proposal would affect different tenants in different ways, depending on specific tenancy arrangements and who the possible new owner is.

We have sent residents two leaflets, the first of which ‘Have Your Say’, provides information on how residents get involved in the consultation, and an additional leaflet entitled ‘What Would the Proposed Change Mean for My Tenancy’ explains this in more detail. It is important that residents read this because, as the leaflet makes clear, there may be differences between individual tenancy agreements. These differences could depend, for example, on when a tenancy was first granted.

The leaflet sets out the main changes in a simplified and summary form, but should you have any questions about what the proposal could mean for you, please get in touch with us, please contact us on 0800 028 4256.