You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
League table alternative would need to satisfy tenants, ministers and the regulator
As the full-scale of the sector’s opposition to performance league tables becomes clear, there is no time to lose in developing alternative proposals, argues Emma Maier
"The sector’s resistance to league tables could risk putting it on a collision course with ministers and the regulator" writes @EmmaMaier #ukhousingLeague table alternative would need to satisfy tenants, ministers and the regulator, writes @EmmaMaier #ukhousingAs the full-scale of the sector's opposition to performance league tables becomes clear, there is no time to lose in developing alternative proposals, argues @EmmaMaier #ukhousingOne of the few measures to make it into the secretary of state’s foreword to the long-awaited, 76-page Social Housing Green Paper was the most controversial and eye-catching: performance league tables.
The proposal, published in the summer, was not a surprise and quickly provoked dissent from sector figures.
"Critics have raised concerns that a league table approach would be reductive, lack context, risk incentivising the wrong behaviours and, crucially, wouldn’t be useful for tenants"
Three months on, all key bodies have come out against the measure, including the Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Housing Federation, the Local Government Association and Tpas.
Critics have raised concerns that a league table approach would be reductive, lack context, risk incentivising the wrong behaviours and, crucially, wouldn’t be useful for tenants since they don’t have the option to change landlords based on performance.
The government’s proposal was set out in a section titled ‘Arming residents with information on landlord performance’, making Tpas’ response all the more damning.
The tenant engagement body expressed fears that league tables could increase stigmatisation of social tenants and wouldn’t lead to performance improvement. It instead calls for ‘meaningful data’ focusing on individual organisations.
But tenants are not the only intended audience for the performance data.
Read more
Since government published the green paper, the prime minister has delivered a keynote address to housing associations, promised long-term partnerships and scrapped the local authority borrowing cap. But there are strings attached.
In return, she is asking for more homes, higher quality standards, large-scale development – and building to continue through the next recession.
"The sector’s resistance to league tables could risk putting it on a collision course with ministers and the regulator"
She wants to know that social landlords are delivering, and to link performance and grant funding.
The regulator, for its part, has been tasked with providing robust oversight of consumer standards, and has been warned that the government wishes to hold the regulator to account.
The sector’s resistance to league tables could therefore risk putting it on a collision course with ministers and the regulator.
Simon Dow, interim chair of the regulator, has already confronted dissenters and challenged them to provide a “compelling case” for what to do instead.
The green paper is clear that the government favours league tables but concedes that other approaches should be considered.
Alternatives will need to satisfy the needs of tenants, government and the regulator.
Green paper consultation responses are clear that landlords support the use of metrics, and suggestions so far include individual key performance indicators and provision of supporting narratives.
There is no time to lose on building on and refining these ideas, and developing a cross-sector proposal.
Emma Maier, editor, Inside Housing
Social Housing Green Paper: full coverage
All our Social Housing Green Paper coverage in one place:
Green paper measures are not enough to create May’s ‘new generation’ of council homes Green paper proposals are welcome but much more is needed to support councils to build, writes John Bibby
Green paper shows ministers now see associations as trusted partners Focusing on the failure of the green paper to address supply misses the point, writes Boris Worrall
Government should focus on building on what is already strong Philippa Jones considers the Social Housing Green Paper through a slightly different lens
We need more than a week of delayed announcements bundled together Jules Birch reflects on the government’s ‘Housing Week’ announcements
The regulator should monitor how associations assist homeless people Government announcements this week are positive, but any enhanced role for the English regulator should include looking at homelessness prevention work, argues David Bogle
The regulator’s role should be limited to dealing with systemic failures Julian Ashby suggests the Housing Ombudsman Service should deal with all complaints
The green paper shows ministers are in listening mode Despite some glaring omissions, the government appears to be in listening mode and it is important the sector takes advantage, argues Emma Maier
A short history of social housing league tables Attempts to create league tables for housing associations are nothing new. Mervyn Jones looks at how they have worked in the past
League tables could prove blunt and counter-productive, sector warns Housing figures criticise government proposals to measure social landlords against performance indicators
Government ‘must decide how proactive regulator should be’ on consumer standards Ministers now face a dilemma over the regulator’s focus, sector figures say
The Green Paper: a golden opportunity missed? Melanie Rees assesses the Social Housing Green Paper against recommendations drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Housing and finds the government comes up short
Longer strategic partnerships and guranteed debt to boost social housebuilding The Social Housing Green Paper outlines key ways of boosting supply
The green paper is remarkable progress but it is still not enough The green paper suggests the government appears to be re-writing much of its policy since 2010, but more needs to be done, writes Jules Birch
Green paper marks a ‘milestone’ on resident involvement The government’s recognition residents need clear information is to be welcomed, now it up to the sector to embrace tenant involvement, writes Paul Hackett
Ministers consider stock transfer programme to community-led associations The stock transfer programme could be revived under proposals in the housing green paper
Access to housing grant could be tied to new league tables Grant could be awarded according to how well landlords meet performance indicators, the paper suggests
Ofsted-style regulation of tenant services proposed The government is considering expanding the Regulator for Social Housing’s remit to intervene over tenant services and give it a more “proactive approach to enforcement”
Government proposes dropping one-for-one Right to Buy replacement commitment A consultation paper published alongside the green paper proposes a broader measurement to replace the one-for-one pledge
A list of recent housing policy U-turns The green paper confirms yet more housing policy U-turns from the government, which has spent the past two years dropping policy ideas developed under the David Cameron government. Here is a rundown of the major changes in policy direction
Sector welcomes green paper but calls for more ‘ambitious investment’ Reaction to the proposals, from the National Housing Federation, Chartered Institute of Housing and more
Morning Briefing: reaction to green paper announcements how the media reported the proposals trailed by the government overnight
Government drops plans to force councils to sell higher-value stock The government drops plans to force councils to sell higher value homes
League tables and ‘sharper teeth’ for regulator in social housing green paper Ministers reveal some of the things in the paper ahead of its publication
Grenfell survivors: green paper does not go far enough survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have said the measures published in the Social Housing Green Paper do not do enough to rectify issues in the social housing sector
Related stories
