- Residents in England to get new advice on how to hold their
landlord to account
- £500,000 government grant awarded to training provider for
launching new scheme in Spring
- Part of wider reforms that will give social housing residents
a stronger voice.
Social housing tenants will be better empowered to raise issues
with their landlords and help hold them to account, as a result
of new guidance and support announced by the Department for
Levelling Up, Housing and Communities today.
A partnership of experts in the sector has received a £500,000
government grant to roll out a new training package open to
anyone living in social housing in England. The scheme aims to
help residents engage effectively with their landlord to demand a
higher quality of service, where needed.
Residents will learn how to take an active role in how their home
is managed - through a series of workshops, forums and online
resources that will run over the next two and a half years. For
example, this could include advice on how to set up a residents
panel or how to challenge a landlord if they fail to meet
required standards.
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary last month called for all
landlords to meet their responsibility in providing decent homes
for tenants. The warning came as he
took action against Rochdale Boroughwide Housing for failing
to treat hazardous mould that contributed to the tragic death of
Awaab Ishak.
The Social Housing Regulation Bill, currently making its way
through Parliament, will also mean that tenants’ complaints are
listened to and dealt with quickly and fairly, with stronger
powers for the Regulator to hold landlords to account.
Minister for Social Housing Baroness Scott said:
Landlords are responsible for giving tenants the decent home they
deserve and the government is taking action to ensure tough
consequences for any who fall short.
We also want to make sure every resident is heard and has the
opportunity to be actively involved in how their home is managed.
This new government-backed scheme will help to do just that -
empowering residents to challenge their landlord where needed and
contribute to positive change in their homes and communities.
The government-backed training will be provided by two
organisations - the Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH)
and the Public Participation, Consultation and Research (PPCR).
Both have expertise in empowering residents within the social
housing sector.
CCH Chief Executive Officer, Blase Lambert,
said:
CCH and PPCR is receiving support from government to enhance our
work empowering and inspiring social housing residents in
England.
We exist to promote resident empowerment and control and want all
residents to understand their rights, be able to raise issues
with their landlords and hold them to account and to be able to
shape and improve the services they receive and the homes they
live in.
Our vision for this programme is for it to be a catalyst for
change, complementing other government action outlined in the
Social Housing White Paper and helping to drive a process of
cultural change in the social housing sector leading to a better
balance of power between landlords and residents.
Last month, social housing residents from across the country came
together to launch a new 250-strong panel, which will advise the
government on its plans to raise social housing standards.
This new training will now form part of the government’s work to
address issues raised by the panel, such as the handling of
repairs and maintenance, as well as landlord accountability.
Details of the programme and how to participate in training will
be provided by CCH before the scheme launches for social
residents across England, in Spring 2023.
To make sure tenants know their rights and can hold housing
providers to account, the government is also launching a £1
million public information campaign early next year.
The Social Housing
Regulation Bill will introduce new powers for the Housing
Ombudsman to take action on complaints. It will also provide the
regulator with tougher powers to enter properties with only 48
hours’ notice and make emergency repairs where there is a serious
risk to tenants and the landlord has failed to act, with
landlords footing the bill.
Further information:
- Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH) is the UK trade
body for co-operative and mutual housing. CCH aims to promote
resident empowerment in social housing, by creating opportunities
for them to take control of the ownership and management of their
homes.
- Public Participation, Consultation and Research (PPCR) is a
social housing research consultancy that aims to empower
residents living in social housing to influence and participate
in decisions that make their homes and local communities better
places to live.
- Further information on the Resident Opportunities and
Empowerment Grant is available in the prospectus and
frequently asked
questions.
- Find more information on the Social Housing White
Paper.
