Effective Tenant Scrutiny Conference Tuesday 7 June 2011 Department for Communities and Local Government

Government Agenda: Localism “Today is the start of a deep and serious reform agenda to take power away from politicians and give it to people.“ David Cameron “We need to give people the platform to get things done ….. a system which properly puts tenants and their representatives firmly in the driving seat.” Grant Shapps Add pictures

Review of Social Housing Regulation In October 2010 Grant Shapps published the Review of Social Housing: transfers functions from the TSA to the HCA; consumer regulation focused on local mechanisms; localist approach for resolving complaints; shift to local challenge and scrutiny including a new standard on Tenant Involvement

Direction on Tenant Involvement Expect the new Direction to include recommendations from the Review: tenants should be given a wide range of opportunities to influence scrutiny of landlord’s performance; landlords must provide timely, useful performance information including an annual report to tenants Subsequent policy announcements increasing opportunities to manage own homes; tenant cashback scheme Consultation on Directions (including Tenure, Mutual Exchange, Rent, Accommodation) expected shortly

Draft direction expected to reflect the Tenant Cashback announcement: opportunities for tenants to be involved in the management of repair services for their homes; tenants take control by undertaking or commissioning routine repair tasks themselves; share in any savings made; gain practical and transferable skills Model will be flexible to suit local circumstances Pilots will examine how the scheme will work in practice

Tenant Panels – Draft Direction Draft direction expected to require landlords to accept scrutiny via a tenant panel Landlords must support the formation and activities of panels Landlords respond in a constructive and timely manner

Tenant Panels – Localism Bill Provisions in the Localism Bill to support tenant panels Proposing to give panels a formal role in the “democratic filter” for complaints handling Means that panels (alongside local councillors and local MPs) will refer unresolved complaints to the HO Up to panels to decide whether to fulfil this dual function

Tenant Panels – work by NTOs NTOs invited by Grant Shapps to identify a framework for the development of tenant panels High level principles on how an effective panel might operate in different local circumstances Supported by case studies / good practice from existing models Expecting to publish early next year - will consult widely during the process

Role of the Regulator Limited to setting clear standards – moving away from current system of monitoring and inspections Only investigating and addressing the most serious failures against those regulatory standards The regulator will consult in Autumn on how it intends to apply a “serious detriment” threshold

Major refocusing of the regulatory framework for consumer protection Conclusion Major refocusing of the regulatory framework for consumer protection Greater emphasis on local accountability and local dispute resolution A stronger role for tenants (and locally elected people) in scrutinising landlord performance Opportunities for tenant panels e.g. scrutiny and “democratic filter”