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Sector experts to advise government on Social Housing White Paper implementation
A group of experts from across the social housing sector is to advise the government on delivering its Social Housing White Paper, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said.
The white paper, which seeks to reform the relationship between social landlords and people who live in their homes, was published last year after lengthy delays. The paper was a key part of the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people.
Throughout the refurbishment of the tower, which ultimately helped the fire to spread, there were countless examples of residents not being provided with information about the block or being ignored when they raised concerns.
The Social Housing White Paper sets out expectations that residents of social housing should be entitled to, including around being safe in their homes, being heard and respected by landlords, and having access to performance information and adequate complaints procedures.
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The new panel, which is due to meet four times over the next year, will provide “scrutiny and advice” as the white paper is implemented, MHCLG said in a statement.
Its 15-strong membership includes charities Shelter, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse and the TAROE Trust, and sector bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Local Government Association and the National Housing Federation.
Jenny Osbourne, chief executive of Tpas, said she was “really pleased” to be involved in the panel as well as related ongoing work.
“As tenant engagement experts, we feel we can help bring a particular perspective to the panel,” she said. “We’ll focus on holding the government to account, particularly on stigma, where we’re not yet clear how the government plans to deliver on their promises.”
But Ms Osbourne added that she was disappointed that no national body representing the voice of tenants had so far been established to sit on the panel.
“We’d be really happy to work with [the MHCLG] to get this moving, or to facilitate more direct, transparent engagement,” she said.
Eddie Hughes, minister for rough sleeping and housing, said that giving social housing residents a stronger voice and ensuring that landlords raise standards was “at the heart of our landmark reforms to transform the sector”.
He added: “The expert panel will help to ensure that we deliver on these reforms, bringing together people who will scrutinise our plans and guarantee we achieve the vision set out in the [white paper].”
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