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Government launches training scheme for social housing tenants to challenge landlords on conditions
The government is launching a new programme offering social housing tenants training in how to hold landlords to account over conditions, it has been announced today.
The Four Million Homes programme has been advertised as a “Watchdog-style” ‘know your rights’ training scheme and will start today with an online launch event at 3pm.
It follows the launch of the Make Things Right campaign in March, which encouraged social housing tenants to complain about sub-standard housing.
More than 100 people from the government’s 250-strong Social Housing Quality Resident Panel have volunteered to support delivery of the new training programme.
The scheme will put on free accredited training events in Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and London.
Beginning in May, these sessions will run over two years and advise tenants of their rights and how to make complaints through the Housing Ombudsman.
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Online training videos will go live from September.
The Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH) and Public Participation, Consultation and Research have been awarded a £500,000 grant to provide the training.
Monthly webinars will cover how to deal with issues such as damp and mould and anti-social behaviour.
The scheme will encourage tenants to play an active role in managing their homes by creating resident panels.
Baroness Scott, faith and communities, and Lords minister, said: “Tenants deserve better, and this training programme will help people up and down the country demand a high-quality service from their landlord.
“We are driving up standards in social housing through landmark legislation and making sure residents’ voices are heard with digital advertisement campaigns.
“The Four Million Homes programme is the latest part of our plan to drive a culture change right at the very heart of the social housing sector.”
Blase Lambert, chief executive officer at CCH, added: “This programme is a catalyst for change in the social housing sector. It complements other government actions outlined in the Social Housing Regulation Bill and the Make Things Right campaign, leading to a better balance of power between landlords and residents.
“All social housing residents need to understand their rights, know how to raise issues with their landlords and hold them to account, and be able to shape and improve the services they receive and the homes they live in. This training programme will do that.”
The government recently tabled amendments to the Social Housing Regulation Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament.
Awaab’s Law is set to place strict time limits on social landlords addressing disrepair, such as damp and mould.
Another measure would require social housing managers to gain a professional qualification.
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