GENUINLY INDEPENDENT TENANTS` ASSOCIATIONS NEEDED

Taming the powerful housing bosses

There is a power imbalance between tenants and housing providers says a report this week describing it as “one of the biggest problems facing the social housing sector today”.

The House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Select Committee`s first report on its inquiry into the regulation of social housing  suggests that one of the most effective ways of empowering tenants is through the establishment of tenants and residents associations, led by tenants themselves, with which housing providers “must engage first and foremost when consulting tenants”.

Carlisle  Tenants` and Residents` Federation which publishes this blog has many years experience of the  deplorable situation described by the committee and has  this comment: “The power inbalance will never go away until the  all-powerful housing associations are brought  into line. These associations  are a law to themselves.

“The Federation has had many years  experience of dealing with these powerful bodies, particulatly the giant Riverside Housing Association of Liverpool which once funded the Federation and then reverted to becoming the bossy inefficient body it is today. Riverside will never change. Nor will the other dictatorial associations”

The LUHC committee recommends that the English regulator  amends the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard to require social landlords to “support the establishment of genuinely independent tenants and residents associations”, including by providing the necessary funding.”

Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants` and Residents`Federation. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277.