Adrian Peacock. Fire Safety In Social Housing. Relationships and Regulation. Tenant Standards Advisor

Transcription

1 Adrian Peacock Tenant Standards Advisor Fire Safety In Social Housing Relationships and Regulation

2 Who are the TSA? We are the regulator of social housing in England We want to make things better for some eight million social housing tenants We have worked with tenants and providers to identify what matters most to tenants to help us decide how best to use our new powers The regulatory framework for social housing in England from April 2010 published 16 th March 2010

3 Making Co-regulation a reality LANDLORDS EXPECTED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE ACCOUNTABLE & TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THEIR TENANTS Self Regulation LESS RED TAPE! Direct Regulation

4 The TSA Standards Standard Containing requirements relating to: Customer service, choice and complaints 1. Tenant Involvement and Empowerment 2. Home 3. Tenancy Agreement 4. Neighbourhood and Community 5. Value for Money 6. Governance and Financial Viability Involvement and empowerment Understanding and responding to diverse needs of tenants Repairs and Maintenance Quality of Accommodation Allocations Rent Tenure Anti-Social Behaviour Neighbourhood Management Local Area Cooperation Value for Money Governance Financial Viability

5 Why do we need a standard which covers health and safety? The facts.. The TSAs statutory objectives To encourage and support a supply of well managed social housing, of appropriate quality, sufficient to meet reasonable demands To ensure that actual or potential tenants of social housing have an appropriate degree of choice and protection To ensure that registered providers of social housing perform their functions efficiently, effectively and economically Responses to the National Conversation To ensure tenants know what they can expect

6 Home Standard Quality of Accommodation Required outcome: Registered providers shall: ensure that tenants homes meet the standard set out in section 5 of the Government s Decent Homes Guidance by 31 December 2010 and continue to maintain their homes to at least this standard after this date meet the standards of design and quality that applied when the home was built, and were required as a condition of publicly funded financial assistance, if these standards are higher than the Decent Homes Standard in agreeing a local offer, ensure that it is set at a level not less than these standards and have regard to section 6 of the Government s Decent Homes Guidance

7 Home Standard Repairs and Maintenance Required outcome: Registered providers shall: provide a cost-effective repairs and maintenance service to homes and communal areas that responds to the needs of, and offers choices to, tenants, and has the objective of completing repairs and improvements right first time meet all applicable statutory requirements that provide for the health and safety of the occupants in their homes

8 Neighbourhood & Community Standard - Neighbourhood Management Required outcomes: Registered providers shall keep the neighbourhood and communal areas associated with the homes that they own clean and safe. They shall work in partnership with their tenants and other providers and public bodies where it is effective to do so. Specific expectations: 1.1 Registered providers shall consult with tenants in developing a published policy for maintaining and improving the neighbourhoods associated with their homes. This applies where the registered provider has a responsibility (either exclusively or in part) for the condition of that neighbourhood. The policy shall include any communal areas associated with the registered provider s homes.

9 How can tenants raise concerns around H&S? Criteria used by the TSA in deciding whether to investigate a complaint: Issues of regulatory concern are related to: the degree to which the complaint provides evidence or grounds to suspect systemic failure against one or more of the TSA s standards by the provider. This includes the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard whether, in our judgement, it raises another serious regulatory concern such as: an immediate or potential risk to a tenant s, or a number of tenants, health and safety an allegation of mismanagement or fraud a significant risk to the reputation of the sector We expect to discuss these complaints with the provider in the first instance. Where appropriate we will share the outcome of the investigation with the complainant.

10 Current Activity on Fire Safety Joint working with Communities and Local Government, the West Midlands Fire Service and Chief Fire Officers Association Information from all HAs with over 1000 properties on fire safety of tower blocks following the Lakanal House incident. Follow up work with organisations identifying a risk. Working with LACoRs Establishment of the Register of Tower Blocks

11 Thanks for listening Tenant Services Authority Adrian Peacock, Tenant Standards Advisor (South West)