a consultation paper on the succession of tenancies has been dubbed a “cheater’s charter” by West Kent Housing Association.
Co-occupation, Transfer and Succession, a 48-page document published by the Law Commission, outlines proposals to allow non-resident family members or carers to succeed social housing tenancies.

But Barbara Thorndick, chief executive of West Kent Housing Association, said that despite their good intentions, the proposals were open to serious abuse.

She said: “The problem for those of us who are gatekeepers of an extremely scarce resource in London and the South-east is that we know from our experience with the right to buy that this will be abused.

“It will enable people who have scant claim to subsidised housing to inherit a precious resource.”

Professor Martin Partington, law commissioner for housing and administrative justice, said such criticism misrepresented the paper’s proposals. He said that under the recommendations a social housing tenancy would only pass to a non-spouse or family member if that person had been in residence for a certain period. The time period is not specified in the paper, but Partington said views were welcome on how long it should be.

John Bryant, National Housing Federation policy officer, said the paper included positive measures, but warned that some specialist organisations could have difficulties with the joint-tenancy proposals. He said: “An association might provide housing only for women – some of whom might live with men – but the association might not necessarily want a man to take on a tenancy.”

The consultation ends on 15 November.