The Council has announced it is introducing safeguards to ensure that homes purchased on new-build estates for its tenants remain affordable, high quality and sustainable, with tougher checks on service charges and maintenance costs in Leamington and the wider Warwick District.

Following a motion to Council in December 2025 by Councillors Jan Matecki and Paul Wightman, and subsequent consideration by the Housing Scrutiny Committee, the Council has worked to establish a framework for any new properties purchased under Section 106 agreements from developers.

The framework will require developers to provide transparent and reasonably forecast service charge increases, helping the Council to make informed decisions about which homes it purchases for tenants.

It also considers factors such as environmental performance, the use of energy-efficient, low-carbon technology to help reduce household bills, and the creation of attractive green spaces that encourage walking and cycling.

Modern housing developments often include private roads, green spaces and drainage systems that are maintained by management companies rather than local authorities.

This means residents pay a service charge to help fund the upkeep of these shared areas.

The Council's new framework introduces stronger checks on these arrangements to help ensure charges are clear, fair and affordable for tenants, reducing the risk of financial hardship.

Cllr Jess Melrose, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: "Our goal is to increase the number of affordable homes available across the district, but we want to ensure those homes remain affordable after people move in.

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"This framework puts residents' interests at the heart of our decision-making. By introducing affordability assessments and greater scrutiny of service charges, we're giving tenants additional protection and transparency.

"We're taking a balanced approach that protects residents while continuing to tackle the urgent need for affordable housing across Warwick District."

The framework will also introduce greater scrutiny and decision-making around future purchases, with reports to Cabinet and Council setting out any service charges and associated costs before decisions are made on acquiring Section 106 homes.