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February 2026
In this issue:
Tenants' and Leaseholders' Forum, a change in tenancy terms and conditions, estate inspections in March, upcoming electrical safety checks, community protection warnings and our most recent performance measures.
Hello and welcome, I hope your New Year has started well and you are looking forward to a positive year ahead.
The Housing Service team remain as busy as ever and we are especially pleased to have completed 75% of our stock survey. This exercise is particularly important in maintaining our properties to the Decent Homes Standard, as this data helps us plan long term investment and maintenance programmes. We continue to make progress on completing the remaining 25% of properties, if your home has not yet been surveyed, please contact your repairs team to arrange a visit.
We are trying to ensure we keep all our tenants and leaseholders aware of what is going on. So, if you have still to register for the Housing Portal or the WhatsApp platform, please join us and keep in the loop.
There is still lots more going on and in particular, we are trying really hard to catch up with the repair issues left by Breyer. We are getting through the backlog and apologise for any delays experienced.
I'm sure you will find this issue of The Link interesting and hope we can continue to meet your housing expectations.
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Thank you for coming to the Tenants' and Leaseholders' Forum
The Dartford Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Forum held a public meeting on Tuesday, February 17, bringing residents together to discuss key housing matters and share updates on their work.
The Forum is an independent resident group dedicated to making sure tenants’ and leaseholders’ voices are heard. It plays an important role in holding Dartford Borough Council to account by scrutinising service performance and attending regular portfolio meetings.
Throughout the year, the Forum hosts public meetings to keep residents informed about its ongoing work and the issues it raises on your behalf. Members are always keen to hear from residents to better understand your views and ensure these are championed and represented.
The Forum is currently setting its agenda for the year, so please contact them if you have any ideas you would like to put forward.
The next public meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 10 at 6.30pm at the Tree Estate Community Centre.
A change in tenancies' terms and conditions
Effective from Monday, April 6, Dartford Borough Council will be varying the terms and conditions of your secure or introductory tenancy.
You will shortly be receiving a formal Notice of Variation which will include further details, as well as a copy of your new Tenancy agreement, summary of changes and our new Tenancy Support Pack.
Please be assured that your tenancy is not being ended. These are just changes to your existing Tenancy Agreement.
If you have any queries after receiving your new Tenancy Agreement terms and conditions, please do not hesitate to contact your Housing Officer by telephone on 01322 343133 or by emailing hem@dartford.gov.uk.
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Get Housing updates straight to your phone
We've launched a WhatsApp channel to keep you up to date with important documents, news and events.
All messages in this group are closed to maintain privacy. Personal information is accessible to admins only.
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A Facebook group that's just for you
We've introduced a new Facebook group for tenants and leaseholders across Dartford to join so they can receive updates direct to their news feeds.
The group is designed for you to raise issues, hear the latest from us and improve our service.
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Estate inspections for March: Come say hello
Customer Engagement Officer Tony Quilter will be carrying out visits in Bean, Darenth, Tree Estate, Sutton at Hone, Alamein Gardens, Longfield and Southfleet in March. If you're free, give him a wave and ask him any questions you may have about our Housing service.
 Upcoming dates for your diary
Please email Housing Engagement to confirm your attendance, or call 01322 343195.
Easter Egg Hunt
Come along to our free family Easter Event, with fun activities including Easter crafts and an egg hunt. Our Housing Services Team will also be on hand to answer your queries and provide advice.
Dates:
Tuesday, April 7: Temple Hill Community Centre, 2pm to 4pm.
Thursday, April 9: Tree Estate Community Centre, 2pm to 4pm.
Digital sessions
Do you need help signing up or using our Tenant Portal, or want to know how to use our online services? Come along to our free digital sessions for help from your Housing Services Team.
Dates:
Monday, March 16.
- Swanscombe Community Hub, 10am to 12pm.
- Temple Hill Community Centre, 2pm to 4pm.
Tuesday, March 31.
- Thatcher Court, 10am to 12pm.
- Tree Estate Community Centre, 2pm to 4pm.
Five Year Electrical Safety Checks Coming in 2026
Electrical faults remain a major cause of domestic fires across the UK. Recent reports highlight that:
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Electrical issues cause over 20,000 fires in UK homes each year (2024–2025).
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As of early 2026, electrical fires continue to account for around half of all accidental house fires nationwide.
Dartford Borough Council is continuing its commitment to keeping residents safe by preparing for upcoming national changes to electrical safety legislation. Here is what you need to know about the new requirements and how they will affect you.
Legislation changes
In 2022, the Government consulted on proposals to reduce the mandatory electrical safety inspection cycle in social housing from once every 10 years to once every 5 years, aligning social housing with the private rented sector.
Dartford Borough Council began preparing for this change in 2022 so that our homes would already meet the new standard once it becomes law.
The legislation is now confirmed to come into force in May 2026.
How this affects you
We currently have around 500 properties that will be due for an electrical inspection between 2026 and 2027, and we are on track to ensure that every home in our housing stock has a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
The new programme will operate in the same way as annual gas servicing:
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A new certificate must be completed before the previous certificate expires.
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Electrical inspections typically take around two hours.
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Contractors will need access to at least 30% of sockets, as well as the Consumer Control Unit (fuse board).
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If the inspection is unsatisfactory, any remedial work or rewiring will be scheduled promptly to ensure your home remains safe.
Electrical safety is a key health and safety priority for Dartford Borough Council. When residents receive appointment letters from our contractors, we strongly encourage you to book in as soon as possible.
If access is repeatedly refused, we may need to consider legal action, including court proceedings, to fulfil our duty to keep homes safe.
If you would like to check the date of your last electrical certificate, our Compliance Team is available to help on 01322 343 800.
 Sharing updates with you
We want to make sure everyone can access and understand the information we share. If you have a visual impairment, or need information in a different format, we can tailor our communications to support you.
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What are Community Protection Warnings (CPW)
What Tenants Need to Know
Antisocial behaviour (ASB) affects the safety and wellbeing of everyone in a neighbourhood. To help tackle persistent or serious issues, Dartford Borough Council and police can use a tool called a Community Protection Warning (CPW). This article explains what CPWs are, when they’re used, and what tenants should do if they are issued one or are affected by someone else’s behaviour.
What Is a Community Protection Warning?
A Community Protection Warning is an early, formal step used to address behaviour that is having a negative impact on the local community. It tells a person that their actions are causing nuisance, harassment, or disorder, and that they must stop.
A CPW is not a criminal record, but it is a formal notice. If the behaviour continues, it can lead to a Community Protection Notice (CPN), which carries legal consequences.
Why Are CPWs Used?
CPWs are designed to: Prevent antisocial behaviour from escalating. Give a clear opportunity for someone to change their behaviour. Protect neighbours and the wider community. Encourage early resolution without going straight to enforcement. They are often used when informal conversations, warnings, and advice have not been successful.
What Types of Behaviour Can Lead to a CPW?
A CPW can be issued for behaviour that is: Persistent , unreasonable, and having a negative impact on others. Common examples include: Persistent loud noise or shouting, misuse of communal areas, repeated disturbances linked to visitors, fly-tipping or leaving rubbish inappropriately.
Who Can Issue a Community Protection Warning?
Typically, a CPW can be issued by: Your Housing Officer and/or their Senior Officers, Police officers and Antisocial behaviour teams
What Happens When Someone Receives a CPW?
A CPW will: Explain the behaviour causing concern, describe the impact on others, set out what must stop or change and explain the consequences if the behaviour continues.
Tenants are usually given a reasonable period to change their behaviour but in some cases behaviours need to happen instantly.
What If the Behaviour Doesn’t Improve?
If the behaviour continues after the warning, the next step may be a Community Protection Notice (CPN). A CPN is legally enforceable and can result in: Fines, confiscation of items causing nuisance, further legal action, including court proceedings and ultimately eviction.
How Tenants Can Report Issues
The earlier issues are reported, the easier they are to resolve. Our teams have an excellent track record with issuing CPW’s and over 90% of the recipients respond positively. And this is great for building positive and resilient neighbourhoods.
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