‘Cashback’ Name Dropped From Tenant Repairs Scheme

One of the housing providers who have been piloting the tenant cashback policy is dropping the name ‘cashback’ from the title. Grant Shapps attempted to kick-start his plans to allow tenants to control their repairs budget last month. He urged landlords “not to deny” their tenants the opportunity to take it up when it comes in this month. As part of the plans, tenants can request to set it up with their landlord.  However, landlords have voiced concerns about the scheme and feel the policy has no “statutory backing” under the new regulatory regime where the regulator – a committee inside the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) – will intervene only if there is “serious detriment” to the tenant.  One said: “It’s highly unregulatable as there is no statutory backing to this. If a landlord fails to offer the scheme is that ‘serious detriment’ to tenants?”  The Together Group had been piloting a ‘sustainable tenancies’ model but a spokesman said the word ‘cashback’ was misleading.  Read more on 24dash.