Cash questions

I am DIY challenged. Assembling flatpack IKEA furniture is as advanced as my efforts get.

But plenty of people are only too happy fixing their own doorhandles or painting their walls, and housing minister Greg Barker’s tenant cashback policy is aimed at these folks.

Under the scheme, currently being piloted by a handful of housing associations, social housing tenants can earn money for doing simple repairs themselves, rather than phoning up their landlord’s repairs service for help.

We held a debate this week, on the forum and on Twitter, about whether the policy will work. Some landlords sung its praises; others labelled the idea ‘patronising’.

Numerous practical issues were also discussed and dealt with – is there a risk of fraud, with tenants breaking things in order to be paid to repair them? How will landlords save money if they have to inspect the property before and after?

I’ve pulled together some of the highlights of the discussion below in this Storify. Next week’s Focus will be on the role and renumeration of board members, you’ll find details here from Monday.