Regulator launches landlord comparison site
The social housing regulator has created a website that allows tenants to compare housing associations in their area.
The Tenant Services Authority site allows users to access information on rent levels, number of homes, satisfaction ratings and regulatory judgements by entering their postcode.
It is aimed at tenants and prospective tenants, as well as local authorities, housing associations, and other interested parties such as councillors and MPs.
TSA chief executive Peter Marsh said: ‘We have received lots of feedback from tenants who find it difficult to compare landlord performance.
‘The portal will enable them to hold their landlord to account by giving them information to ask questions about their landlord’s performance and how it compares to others in their area.’
An updated version of the portal will be released in the spring, in response to feedback on the initial version. The TSA is also looking at other ways to make the information available.
The regulator has also published full 2009 housing association performance indicator results, which cover all associations with 1,000 homes or more.
These show 91 per cent of homes meet decent homes, but only 20 per cent of landlords have got all their properties to the standard.
It also states that on average 76 per cent of tenants are satisfied with their landlord’s repairs and maintenance services, and 80 per cent with overall service.
The TSA said there is a ‘significant difference’ between landlords achieving the highest and lowest satisfaction ratings.
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Readers' comments (2)
worried well | 01/12/2009 4:25 pm
What a bizarre and expensive idea.
You either get services that are happy with or you do not.
If you do not then the service provider should be doing something about it and if you do - what do you want to do - gloat?
Or is it that you do not know what a good service is? I tend to know when I use a service if it is good or not. Of my cleaning service I expect things to be clean. If I go to get something done I do not mind, as long as it is done, right, and in a way that suits me. I do not care what happens in Hull or Cornwall.
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R P T | 01/12/2009 6:41 pm
A site comparing private landlords would be more useful. Listing deposits, notice periods,'administrative charges' and what proportion of deposits are returned on average. That would help would be tenants avoid the worst ones.
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