CIH study backs tenant-led regulation
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Resident-led self-regulation of housing organisations could improve social housing and cut the need for external intervention, a study has concluded.
The Chartered Institute of Housing report, which was commissioned by regulator the Tenant Services Authority, examines a new approach to tenant involvement and performance management, which gives tenants the power to challenge their housing organisation.
The report looks at existing practice that makes effective use of resident-led scrutiny, and makes suggestions that could inform the TSA’s approach to regulation.
A number of housing organisations are already using resident-led self-regulation, and the three-year study, which was funded through the TSA’s Tenant Excellence Fund, considers these examples.
Abigail Davies, head of policy at the CIH and co-author of the report, said: ‘The early adopters of resident-led self-regulation have done some great work and have paved the way for others to follow. If it becomes widespread in the housing sector it will bring clear benefits to tenants, housing providers and the regulator.
‘This approach can improve services, and it also has the potential to link with the new regulatory framework to assure the quality of landlord performance and to reduce external intervention.’
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Readers' comments (14)
Zack | 09/03/2010 9:58 am
Another dumb idea what is next
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simon stokes | 09/03/2010 10:36 am
Another good idea in theory but mad in practice. How many tenants are qualified and experienced in running a housing organisation?
Our tenant group have problems running a car boot sale, we would be bankrupt in no time if we let them regulate us! It has to be an independant, qualifed, accountable body, tenants have too much self interest to regulate anything to do with their tenancies, please get real!
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The Reaper | 09/03/2010 10:36 am
Depends on the residents...
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Len White | 09/03/2010 10:58 am
I don't think it's a dumb idea at all. Housing needs clear regulation but everyone is opposed to the bureaucratic style we had from the Housing Corporation. So the TSA's proposed coregulation which gives a central role to tenants to scrutinise and challenge landlords is a good way forward. The problem is getting to the point where tenants have the resources and the capacity to undertake this new role, so landlords have to do a huge amount to help tenants gear up. The carrot is that the new system could be much better than before but the stick is that, if landlords don't make it work, then they will face a return to a more prescriptive form of regulation in the future. The CIH report shows that it can be made to work, which is good news for everybody.
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Zack | 09/03/2010 11:51 am
The fact is majority of tenants in social housing are on benefits with no little of no skills, will no finance, management, housing expertise.
The amount of training required will make this unworkable and to expensive.
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Karen | 09/03/2010 12:58 pm
Zack - I think a lot of tenants would be justifiably incensed by that comment. Just because someone has suffered financial hardship and needs help in the form of social housing does not mean they have no skills.
I'm not saying I think this is simple but it seems fair that tenants take a part in understanding procedures and outcomes more.
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Len White | 09/03/2010 1:15 pm
The whole point of the CIH research is to show examples of it working in practice so it can't just be writtten off with a few insulting comments about tenants. There are lots of tenants who make a major contribution to their landlord and their estates, fantastic examples of people demonstrating their skills on behalf of their communities. The main thing holding back tenants is prejudice and landlords have to get over this and other barriers to progress or face a much more prescritive regulatory regime in future.
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Chester | 09/03/2010 3:20 pm
Looking at some comments on this forum I would have concern with some tenants ability to contribute to society, let alone a multi £m turnover organisation. Housing is unique in this respect, I mean I don't get chance to tell Tesco how to stock their shelves, but I shop there. I can't tell Shell where best to do their petro-chemical exploration, but I fill my car up. I don't tell a trained and experienced brain surgeon which frontal lobe to slice off with his scalpal because my taxes pay for the NHS. So after 5 years studying at Uni, and years of experience why can a tenant tell me how my organisation should be run because they live in a house/flat. EVERYONE does for Pete's sake!!!
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Len White | 09/03/2010 3:26 pm
The whole point of the CIH research is to show examples of it working in practice so it can't just be writtten off with a few insulting comments about tenants. There are lots of tenants who make a major contribution to their landlord and their estates, fantastic examples of people demonstrating their skills on behalf of their communities. The main thing holding back tenants is prejudice and landlords have to get over this and other barriers to progress or face a much more prescritive regulatory regime in future.
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karen | 09/03/2010 3:41 pm
Wow - nothing like a bit of stereotypical witchhunting. Co-regulation is about being accountable and EXPLAINING the outcomes. Its not about a tenant coming in and telling the CEO how to be a CEO. Its not about a tenant taking the balance sheet and telling a Financial director about the proposed viability of the company.
Firstly, stop discriminating and using a stereotypical view of tenants. And stop being so prejudice and open your minds just a tiny bit to allow some potential in. You might find that tenants have brains and are just as capable (if not more in some of the cases represented here) of using them.
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