- Over 250 social housing tenants to make up new Social
Housing Quality Resident Panel, launching today
- Group will directly influence social housing quality
reforms
- Forms part of the government’s commitment to ensure residents
given a proper voice
Social housing tenants from across England will come together
this week to make their voices heard and help drive change, as
the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launches
a new resident-led panel (Saturday 26 November).
Over 250 tenants will meet today (26 November) to launch the
group that will directly influence the government’s plans on
improving social housing conditions and bringing about sector
change.
Members of the Social Housing Quality Residents will share their
experiences with ministers, inform policy change and ensure
resident voices are properly heard as the government drives
forward its social housing reforms.
The launch follows the Housing Secretary’s action, announced this
week, against Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) after it failed
to treat hazardous mould leading to the tragic death of Awaab
Ishak.
In a crackdown on poor standards, has stripped the housing
association of new taxpayer funding for housing - until the
Regulator of Social Housing has concluded its investigation and
RBH can prove it is a responsible landlord.
This serves as a warning to other housing providers, with Gove
prepared to take robust action against those that are letting
down tenants.
Housing Secretary said:
‘This government will not stand for any tenant being mistreated
and we are acting to ensure they get the safe and decent homes
they deserve.
“For too long, tenants have been denied a proper voice - this
ends today. Our new residents panel will ensure that tenants are
at the heart of reforms to social housing.
“I look forward to working with the panel to drastically raise
the standard of social housing across the country.”
Housing Secretary and Minister for Social
Housing will attend the
launch event to thank residents for their important contribution
in the government’s work to improve social housing for tenants.
Ahead of the launch, panel members from across the country have
shared their views and hopes for the panel:
Emma from East of England said:
“I would like to bring back the stronger relationships between
tenants and their housing association.
“Quality of repairs has also become an issue, things being
replaced for a lesser quality and the tenant is supposed to
accept it in their home.
“Social landlords need to become more involved with their tenants
and rebuild the fractured relationships.”
Roy from the East Midlands said:
“I have been an involved resident for nearly 12 years, and have
worked tirelessly to improve the services provided by our
landlord.
It’s not always been easy and on many occasions it has been very
frustrating. But we saw a chink of light with the publication of
the Social Housing White Paper, as we might at least be able to
make the services supplied by our landlord fit for
purpose”
Abbey from the South East said:
“I am passionate about improving social housing. I'm a scrutiny
panel member and a block rep, but this initiative had the
possibility to create change on a larger and less local scale. I
would like to make sure that voice is heard.”
Karen from the South West said:
“I want to help improve the condition of social housing and also
help remove the stigma attached to social housing.”
The panel forms part of the government’s commitment in the Social
Housing White Paper to rebalance the relationship between tenants
and landlords.
Residents will shape the direction of the panel, with options to
cover topics like how to raise awareness of the complaints
process, or improving tenants’ access to information about their
landlords.
Further information:
· Panel members will be
involved a series online sessions and focus groups over the next
year - with the full panel convening every 4 months for an update
on progress.
· More information on the
Social Housing Residents Panel is available here.
