Only four landlords sign up to project to tackle bad behaviour
Landlords snub ASB scheme
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Just four social landlords have applied to a scheme launched 18 months ago to flag up best practice in tackling anti-social behaviour in Wales.
Only two of these have so far been awarded the Wales housing management standard for tackling anti-social behaviour, which was launched by the Welsh Assembly Government in July 2008. There are around 100 social landlords in the country.
Wales and West Housing Association and Charter Housing Association are the only ones so far to have achieved the voluntary standard.
Social landlords must meet seven criteria to reach the standard. These include empowering residents and preventing the causes of anti-social behaviour.
The other two participants, Newydd Housing Association and RCT Homes, have been told what steps they must take before they meet the standard.
These four aside, no other housing associations have applied - and no councils have applied at all.
The Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru has produced new guidance about how the standard works, which came out last week.
Vikki Hiscocks, policy and public affairs manager with CIH Cymru, said: ‘I think there might have been a lack of understanding about the processes they [landlords] would need to go through [to achieve the standard]. Hopefully this guidance will help support landlords through the processes.’
Shayne Hembrow, operations director for Wales & West Housing Association, suggested many organisations might believe signing up to the standard involved a ‘lot of onerous paperwork’. ‘However, this is not the case,’ he added.
Sonia Dellay, community safety officer for RCT Homes, said: ‘The reason for the slow uptake for this accreditation may be down to individual organisations’ resources.’ A spokesperson for the Welsh Local Government Association said many councils across Wales already met the standard despite not having signed up.
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