20,000 tenants win right to better deal

MORE than 20,000 social housing tenants in Oldham are to be given new legal rights under Government plans to help them get a better service from their landlords.

From next April, every council or housing association tenant will be able to call on a new independent regulator, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), to go after landlords that have failed to hold up their side of any deal to maintain standards of service.

Figures from the Department of Communities and Local Government show there were 20,044 social tenants across Oldham — 5,813 in housing association homes and 14,231 in council houses.

The TSA, which was set up earlier this year, has been asked to oversee the drawing up of agreements between tenants and landlords over the next few months to prepare for the launch of the new powers in the spring. It will also be directed to set national housing standards that all tenants can expect.

Local agreements might include maximum response times for landlords to make routine repairs, the right to choose a convenient time to have work done, or priorities for neighbourhood improvements such as tackling nuisance behaviour.

Where necessary, the TSA will be able to use new enforcement powers to ensure that tenants get a good service, including issuing enforcement notices or even transferring the management of properties to another provider.

In addition, housing associations may face fines or be forced to pay compensation to their tenants.

The new powers are designed to ensure that, for the first time, all social tenants can expect clear standards of service from their landlord, backed by regulatory action when needed.

Housing minister John Healey said: “We have driven up standards in public housing over the past 12 years. Thanks to the Decent Homes Programme and over £33 billion investment many tenants’ homes have been made decent and I want these homes to remain that way.

“But I want to go further so tenants will know the service they can expect from their landlord.”