Strengthening Tenant Scrutiny 11 March 2011 Carole Burchett Chair of Soha Board and Soha Tenant Nasreen Razaq Al-Hamdani Vice Chair, Tenant Scrutiny Group Catherine Little Policy & Initiatives Manager

Strengthening Tenant Scrutiny In 2009 Soha Housing was the first housing association in the country to achieve ‘strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses’ rating for Resident Involvement and Value for Money under the short notice inspection regime.

Background Established in 1997 Tenants’ Forum established in 1997 Resident Involvement and Marketing Manager 2005 Tenant Inspectors 2006 Scrutiny Group 2010

Co-regulation Model Tenants’ Forum Soha Board and Staff Governing / managing Scrutiny Group challenging 12 members, 50 / 50 TF / non-TF No Board members Portfolio Holders Advising 2 TF members for each area. make decisions which are noted by full Forum meeting Tenants’ Forum Holding to account 21 Elected Representatives + Co-Optees Liaison Group Chair or representative from: Tenants’ Forum (chair) Scrutiny Group Representative Groups Tenant Inspectors Tenant Inspectors Checking Independent - ‘do they do what is says on the tin?’ Representative Groups representing Access for All, Seniors Group, BME researchers, Youth Forum.

Who’s involved? Recruitment Some of the people involved

Training Housemark Internal Field trip!

Scrutiny so far… Soha’s compliance with TSA standards Review of how we present performance information Soha’s response to changes to social housing Soha’s local offers

What Now? Co-regulation champions – tenant led seminars Planning timetable for 2011-12: - Scrutiny timetable - Tenant inspections - Tenants’ Forum – and portfolio holders - Representative groups

So What?