National Standards.
Guaranteed national standards for all social housing tenants whether they live in local authority or housing association homes are now in place and soon to be overseen by the Homes and Community Agency(HCA).
The Regulatory Framework for social housing in England from April 2010 (pdf)
Response Paper from Leeds Tenants Federation here. There are six new standards. They place greater emphasis on the relationship between landlords and their tenants at the local level – one where tenants are at the heart of shaping, influencing and monitoring the services they receive. A credit card summary is here. (pdf file). This is called co-regulation, in which landlords are expected to make themselves more accountable and to work more closely with their tenants.
The six national standards are:
-
Tenant involvement and empowerment
-
Home
-
Tenancy
-
Neighbourhood and Community
-
Value for Money
-
Governance and Financial Viability
The Tenants Service Authority has had a short life as champion for tenants challenging social landlords to have the highest standards, providing choice and championing the needs and aspirations of tenants. We will wait to see if the HCA will follow this approach.
Rotherham tenants outside Leeds Town Hall at TSA Consultation