Tilly Ashton
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Comment on: TSA sheds £2.7m to avoid quango axe
Question to Editor: could you direct me to Grant Schapps online interview....a google search didn't return anything?
Thank you,
Tilly
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Posts (3)
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Posted in: CARELESS HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Hi,
I'm certainly not suggesting that all consultants are some sort of super oracles, but a lot of them do add much needed value. There are definitely some shabby ones out there, but the Housing Industry is a small world and you'd be surprised how many get hired on recommendations alone.
I agree, performance (certainly where things like repairs are concerned) should be decided by the customers! But sometimes I wonder whether if the customer has too much say on how to achieve that performance (such as when and which consultant to hire) it might actually cost the HA more money and take far more time to achieve the results .
Often involved customers represent a very small demographic of the customer base, and so you have the minority speaking on the behalf of the majority which can go against the consultation ethos. When deciding things like when and where to use consultants - if you were to ask your customers you'd realistically only be able to ask your involved ones, which is why its probably best left as a management decision. Plus, thats what the management are there to do, and regardless of what many of these post suggest - housing staff certainly aren't in this for the money (!), we do it because we genuinely care and really are driven to get things right.
But these are only my thoughts, I'm just trying to add some balance to the debate, take of it what you will.
Best wishes,
T x
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Posted in: CARELESS HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Hi Eva,
You seem very concerned about the hiring of consultants. I wonder if you've thought about the benefits that consultants can bring?*
As a spectator of the forums, I notice that you appear to be worried about the way your housing association is run and have some quite strong views on its staff.
When Housing Associations bring in consultants, they do it for several reasons:
1. because they want clarification/direction on an issue they are struggling with and a consultant often has a broad range of experience having been contracted by lots of housing associations.
2. They can get this specialist advise only when they need it, and often it works out cheaper than hiring staff to do the same thing.
If anything, doesn't this just reinforce that they're working hard to get things righ?
As others have mentioned, just because the organisation has got consultants in doesn't mean it will adversely affect the service you receive - it could be for something like procuring contracts or restructuring a department. Nor does it necessarily mean that they are wasting money, lots of housing associations dont have a procurement specialist in house but have a legislative duty to procure in a certain (and very complicated) way.
Perhaps to answer your question, you could ask for a copy of their financial accounts - which should be available on their website. If they really do spend a lot then it may well be listed under a seperated heading - and the accounts are audited by an external company so they are open, honest and transparent.
Otherwise, keep an eye on their performance data. So long as the organisation is performing well and is financially stable, then everything should be okay.
The advise you've been given on this site is right. You have an absolute say in the way the organisation is run from a tenancy facing perspective. But in doing this you can't tell your organisation's managers when they can or can't hire a consultant. I'm sure they house a lot of customers who have different views to you, and it would be impossible for them to ask everyone everytime they decide they need a new consultant!
Best wishes,
T x
* before you ask...I am not a consultant.
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Posted in: eligibility for rent arrears
I agree, this should be statute barred under s.19 Limitations Act 1980 - so long as you haven't admitted liability for it or communicated with them over the past 6 years about the debt.
S.19 says:
Time limit for actions to recover rent. No action shall be brought, or distress made, to recover arrears of rent, or damages in respect of arrears of rent, after the expiration of six years from the date on which the arrears became due.
I also know there were some 'distress for rent' rules published in 2009 and there is various legislation about pressurising people for money that they supposidly owe...but I'm no expert. It would definitely be worth while speaking to the CAB
Hope this helps,
Tilly