Short-term tenancies for council housing have been suggested as ‘another tool in the box’ to tackle long waits for homes.

Southampton City Council has thousands of people on its waiting list for social housing.

For a three-bed home, it is estimated to take 11 years for a non-priority list applicant to be housed.

The authority’s current policy is to mainly provide secure lifelong tenancy agreements.

There is an option for flexible fixed-term tenancies for a period of at least two years but these are typically used when homes are part of an upcoming redevelopment scheme.

Conservative deputy leader Cllr Jeremy Moulton said people on the waiting list are “quite keen on short-term tenancies”.

Speaking at an overview and scrutiny management committee meeting, he suggested the policy initiative for new tenants, with security for residents tied into agreements.

Cllr Moulton said it would start freeing up properties more quickly, particularly those which are in short supply and high demand, such as bigger houses.

He gave an example of a family with three children becoming a tenant in a four-bed house. When the children become adults, if they move out and one of the parents were to pass away, there would be one person living in the large property.

Under a secure lifelong tenancy, all the council could do is ask if the tenant would like to move into a smaller property, the committee was told.

“They don’t really need the four-bedroom house,” Cllr Moulton said.

“Other families desperately need that home, possibly they are in cramped private sector accommodation.

“If it was a short-term tenancy, we could review that after a period of time and say we would like to offer you an alternative tenancy on a smaller property to reflect your current circumstances.”

Labour cabinet member for housing Cllr Andy Frampton said the administration did not believe the idea “fits the need of the city”.

“Our thoughts will be that we want to give people who join us as council tenants security in their accommodation and their home that they choose to live in,” Cllr Frampton said.

Asked if he could see the benefits, the cabinet member said: “I can see the benefits but I can see the benefits of us building more social homes. That would be the best thing that we need to do.”

He said that if the country-wide housing crisis was sorted, Southampton would see the benefits and people would have secure homes for their families.

Cllr Moulton said: “You could build more homes, you could fix the existing homes you have got, you could get the voids removed, but this is just another tool in the box.”

Cllr Frampton agreed to “have a little think” away from the meeting about the short-term tenancy suggestion.