Government cash to teach social housing tenants to complain

Government cash to teach social housing tenants to complain

9:05 AM, 17th August 2022, About 2 years ago 5

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Social housing tenants will be able to get training and support to speak up and complain about issues with their landlord, the government has announced. 

A £500,000 grant to provide training, boost confidence and offer toolkits for residents on a range of social housing issues has now opened for bids.

The Resident Opportunities and Empowerment programme will run from the autumn to spring 2025 and will empower social housing residents across England to hold their landlord to account.

It includes opportunities for residents to learn how to influence landlord decisions that affect tenants and their community.

For example, guidance on how to form a residents panel will help residents in engaging with their landlords where services, such as repairs and maintenance, do not meet required standards.

Rebalancing the relationship between tenants and landlords

The announcement is a key part of the government’s commitment to rebalancing the relationship between tenants and landlords, set out in the Social Housing White Paper.

Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, Eddie Hughes, said: “Tenants have a right for their voices to be heard – and we want to ensure they have the tools and resources to do this.

“We committed to rebalancing the relationship between social housing tenants and landlords as part of our Social Housing White Paper.”

He added: “This new grant will enable an organisation with expertise in the sector to help tenants take an active role in how their home is managed.”

Understanding of the importance of resident empowerment

The £500,000 grant is open to bids from organisations or partnerships in England with relevant expertise in the social housing sector and an understanding of the importance of resident empowerment.

Those applying will need to show experience in:

  • Providing training, capacity building and access to independent information, within the social housing sector
  • Working collaboratively with landlords to deliver outcomes beneficial to residents and their communities
  • Establishing significant and appropriate sector links and networks, to reach social housing residents, including underrepresented demographics and new audiences
  • Delivering an offer which supports and adds value to the measures set out in the ‘Social Housing White Paper, The Charter for Social Housing Residents
  • Delivering projects that provide value for money.

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Comments

mr buddah

9:48 AM, 17th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Is this is a typical example on where our taxes are being spent ?

Richie

11:10 AM, 17th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Maybe there will be a similar one for Landlords to help us out with difficult tenants? 🤔

Judith Wordsworth

13:23 PM, 17th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Richie at 17/08/2022 - 11:10
Maybe we should campaign for this lol.
I approached Citizens Advice re a tenant from hell who was verbally abusive, abusive in writing, refusing to pay the shortfall in the rent and reporting me to environmental health for putting passive air vents in the property as she refused to ventilate in autumn, spring and winter causing damage and mould.
I was told “we only advise landlords”. Considering my taxes help towards their wages and centre’s rent it’s pretty disgusting being so one sided.

Mick Roberts

13:56 PM, 17th August 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Richie at 17/08/2022 - 11:10
Ha ha well said Richie

Darren Peters

15:21 PM, 17th August 2022, About 2 years ago

There used to be a saying that the BBC wanted to talk about religion without talking about God.

The government wants to spend money on the housing problem without housing anyone.

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