As national conversation begins, TSA pledges an ‘unapologetic focus’
Regulator to target landlord finances
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The Tenant Services Authority warned housing associations it would have an ‘unapologetic focus’ on their finances, as it began a national conversation with tenants this week.
The regulator’s warning came in its first corporate plan. It was published as TSA chief executive Peter Marsh launched a national dialogue with tenants from the back of camper van.
Staff from the agency will tour England in the van over the next two months, seeking tenants’ views on how the TSA should operate. The regulator will also use the sessions to develop a new set of ‘aspirational’ standards for housing providers.
The corporate plan, which outlines the TSA’s goals up to March 2010, states that the regulator will compare service standards between different associations in a bid to drive up standards. But it also tells associations that they should be under no illusions about the type of scrutiny they will face.
A foreword by Mr Marsh and chair Anthony Mayer says: ‘We will continue to regulate using the old powers of the Housing Corporation, but with an unapologetic focus on financial viability in these difficult economic times.’
The TSA’s plan also signalled that tenants would be able to choose to pay rents based on the level of service they receive.
Housing associations will be expected to pay fees from 2010 to raise £25 million a year for the TSA.
Mr Marsh said that TSA executive director Richard Moriarty would work with associations to drive efficiency - for example by encouraging more stock rationalisation.
But some tenants warned that the TSA still had to prove its willingness to act. Alex Brown, from the Yorkshire and Humber Tenants’ Association, said: ‘There are a lot of positive-sounding noises coming out of the TSA, but it remains to be seen whether the action matches the talk.’
Meanwhile, the TSA ran into controversy when it emerged that associations were being asked to pay more than £2,000 a day for use of the camper van. The marketing agency responsible for the van, The Mill Group, admitted it would charge £1,995 a day plus VAT.
Jane Allen, assistant director of operations at arm’s-length management organisation Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, said the ALMO would be glad of a ‘face-to-face dialogue’. But she added: ‘We would be unable to justify spending £2,000 of residents’ money for this opportunity.’
Talking points
Views on the national conversation
- TSA chief executive Peter Marsh
‘We’re trying to make this as inclusive a process as possible, so as well as all the different ways people can get involved - the website, the forums, the regional events - the van is available to any association in England.’
- TSA corporate plan
‘We believe that increasing [tenant] choice should reduce the need for regulation. We need change in this area because excess demand in the current system allows too much coasting for poor landlords and tenants have little choice or ability to exit from poor services.’
- Tenant Alex Brown
‘At the moment I am just waiting to see which way it is going. To give [the TSA] their due, they are coming out and talking to us. But whether they listen is another thing.’
- Guinness Trust chief executive Simon Dow
‘It is incumbent upon us to experiment with ways to talk to customers and it is something the sector as a whole will be doing.’
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Readers' comments (3)
kass | 23/01/2009 5:30 pm
........ "Jane Allen, assistant director of operations at arm’s-length management organisation Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, said the ALMO would be glad of a ‘face-to-face dialogue’. But she added: ‘We would be unable to justify spending £2,000 of residents’ money for this opportunity."...................
Dear Jane Allen, if you had listened properly to your tenants over the years, you wouldn't have to spend any tenants money AT ALL!... So do not blame Mr Marsh for this because the only ones to blame for any money invested in this highly praseworthy TSA initiative is the like of you... As in 30 years London and Quadrant has wasted a lot of money about things tenants did not need or did not want in the first place and the way London and Quadrant has gone about with his services - as a tenant I found this is the best investment yet London and Quadrant can do - to give a chance to tenants often never given a chance to have a say about their own homes to do so. And the sooner the better because - and this is what terrifies the likes of Jane Allen - the findings will be extremely damning of the way most housing associations have been treating their tenants and thier needs.
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John | 25/01/2009 4:37 pm
Housing associations are required to provide efficiency savings each year. Now, they are expected to fund TSA who regulates them. Is there a conflict of interest between the role of the new funders (Housing association) and reciepients (TSA)?
Cant the same source of funding to the Housing Corporation be recycle to TSA?
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Sandra Martin | 26/01/2009 12:41 pm
Well said!
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