Council Retains 'Optimised' ALMO in Tri-Partite Agreement

A London-based ALMO has agreed a "unique agreement" with its council to continue managing the local authority's 16,500 homes.  The tri-partite agreement between Hounslow Council, its ALMO Hounslow Homes and the tenants and residents will also see the ALMO able to deliver services to outside organisations to generate additional income.  The deal includes a protocol that will see the Hounslow Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (HFTRA) becoming directly involved in delivering improvements to services.  An independent tenant scrutiny board is also being set up to strengthen tenants’ influence in how their homes and neighbourhoods are run.  Read more on Hounslow Council’s website.

Shapps Backs Tenant Takeover Campaign

Housing Minister Grant Shapps is backing a campaign alerting council and housing association tenants of ways to achieve control of their homes. He has pledged his support to the '1000 Communities Campaign', to be launched later this month, which will present new research into tenant self-management. The Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to streamlining the Right to Manage (RTM) regulations at a tenant scrutiny event. It first announced plans to do so last February. The campaign argues that most council and housing association tenants do not know about the opportunities that exist for them to take more control of the homes they live in. Read more on 24dash.

Tenants 'Block' Councils' In-House Moves with Takeover Threat

At least two councils have called off plans to bring their ALMOs back in house, after tenants said they would use existing regulations to take over the running of their homes, it has emerged. It comes as the Government reaffirmed its commitment to streamlining the Right to Manage (RTM) regulations at a tenant scrutiny event this month. It first announced plans to do so in February. A source close to the council discussions said: "The reality is, two councils, and I won't name them, were intending to bring their ALMOs back in house, but the tenants turned round and said - right, we'll go down the Right to Manage route and they backed off and decided to retain their ALMOs." Read more on 24dash.

New Quality Scheme for Tenant Scrutiny

A new framework of standards for tenant scrutiny is being launched to help landlords and tenants improve the quality of housing services. The Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS), HouseMark and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) have worked together to create the Quality Assured Scrutiny (QAS), a new accreditation scheme which will recognise the quality of tenant scrutiny and the improvements it will deliver in social housing. This comes as the focus of consumer protection and decision-making moves away from the regulator towards tenants themselves and their own locally defined needs and priorities. Housing providers are being invited to pre-register for the new accreditation scheme which will launch formally in the New Year. Read more on the CIH website.

Can You Host A Tenant Training Course In August Or September?

Growing Together is a programme of FREE Training for tenants in co-regulation and tenant scrutiny that offers three training courses:
*Preparing the Ground – giving tenants an overview of co-regulation
*Sowing the Seeds – providing an introduction to tenant scrutiny
*Reaping the Rewards – offering an advanced course in tenant scrutiny
We are currently organising training at tenant and landlord venues and are keen to hear from any organisations who would like to host a Preparing the Ground or Sowing the Seeds training course in August or September. Detailed information and course outlines can be found on the Growing Together Training website. Growing Together Training is a partner of HouseMark in this initiative. Click on the link below for more information.