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Community premises to lease

The council’s VCS strategy includes a commitment to supporting the sector through taking a strategic approach to providing premises. This strategic approach commits the council to using resources well. It must be fair to those using a council-owned building.

The council has 70 premises that it rents exclusively to voluntary and community organisations. These premises are described as the Community Premises Portfolio. Organisations rent these premises to provide services to local people. 

Occasionally these premises become available and new ones are added. To be notified when these premises are available, signup to the VCS newsletter. They are also listed on the council’s commercial lettings page.

You will also find a list of premises available to lease at commercial rates. Discounts are not available to the VCS for these commercial premises.

Full details of the Community Premises Portfolio can be found in the VCS premises policy.

Community Benefit Rent Reduction

The council has a scheme to give rent reduction of up to 80 per cent to organisations that meet its requirements. Organisations that do not meet all the requirements may still get 40 or 20 per cent rent reduction. The scheme is called Community Benefit Rent Reduction (CBRR).

To be eligible for CBRR, an organisation must:

  1. Occupy premises listed in the council’s ‘Community Premises Portfolio’ with a lease of three to five years
  2. Be community led
  3. Show good governance
  4. Embrace diversity, work to improve community cohesion and reduce inequality
  5. Be capable of managing a building
  6. Be willing to share space, and
  7. Show how their activities contribute to the Tower Hamlets Plan outcomes.

Full details of the CBRR scheme are set out in the  VCS premises policy.

The CBRR award is treated as a grant to your organisation and we will work with you to monitor the grant each year.

The value of the CBRR may exceed £20,000 per annum. Where this happens, the council’s assessment includes a Social Value Self-Assessment Tool. Check the guidance on the social value self assessment tools.

Please email vcs@towerhamlets.gov.uk for any enquiries.