Swale Borough Council is seeking people’s views on discounts to charities and other not for profit organisations that are looking to rent council properties.

The council’s draft Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Lettings Policy sets out how the Council will determine whether concessions on renting council property can be considered and how much discount might be awarded.

The document sets out a points-based system which sets the percentage discount VCS organisations can receive, with reductions of up to 90% available to those organisations that deliver the greatest benefits to the local area.

The criteria are based on how the organisation benefits their community, and how they help meet the council’s priorities for improving the borough.

The key changes to the policy are:

• creating an online application process, making it simpler for VCS organisations to apply
• updating the points-based system, making the requirements clearer for charities
• aligning the policy to other recently updated policies
• making sure organisations are run safely, with evidence of safeguarding and prevent strategies

The updated points system would put a stronger emphasis on organisations needing to demonstrate a benefit to the community to be entitled to the discounts.

This policy does not apply to Swale House, which needs to be commercially viable, leases of more than 25 years, or to community assets where an organisation solely exists to manage the asset.

To read the document and respond to the survey, visit: swale.gov.uk/vcs-policy-consultation

The consultation closes on Wednesday 17 December 2025.

Kind regards,

Strategic Programme and Assets Team
[email protected]