Social Rented Housing – Parliamentary Written Answer

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to the potential loss of economies of scale of his Department's Tenant Cashback scheme.

Grant Shapps: Under Tenant Cashback, social tenants that take pride in their homes by taking on routine repairs and maintenance should be able to share in any savings made. Similarly, community groups that take control of communal services, saving the landlord money by delivering a more efficient service, should be able to decide how to reinvest the savings to fund improvements to the local area for the benefit of all residents.  Social housing should act as a springboard to help people make better lives for themselves. The experience of current pilot schemes is showing that Tenant Cashback can bring tenants an increasing sense of ownership over their homes and communities, together with real practical benefits such as new skills for tenants, while landlords are seeing a significant reduction in the number of repairs reported.  Our approach allows social landlords to design schemes in consultation with tenants. Landlords can consider the scope for economies of scale alongside the other benefits and efficiencies that can arise through enabling tenants to commission work or to carry it out themselves.  The scheme can help save money for landlords and allow local residents to earn extra cash.