Regulator of Social Housing to oversee post-Grenfell tenant rights system

An RSH spokesperson told Social Housing it welcomed the government’s plans for STAIRs, which it said will “increase transparency in the sector”.

The spokesperson added: “We are fully committed to introducing these requirements after the government’s consultation concludes and it issues its direction to us.”

Information in the requests from tenants could include rent collection, details on mergers, property repairs and anti-social behaviour. 

In its response to the consultation last year, the G15 warned that its members would need “sufficient time” to comply with the legislation.

TMOs subject to FOIs

The government also revealed today that tenant management organisations (TMOs) will become subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. 

“This will enable residents of TMOs to request access to information about the management of their homes in the same way as other local authority tenants,” the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said in its response. Council tenants can already use the Freedom of Information system, which was introduced 20 years ago under the previous Labour government. 

MHCLG further pledged to “review overall arrangements for the oversight of delegated management organisations, including TMOs, to ensure effective oversight and accountability is in place regardless of who delivers housing management services to tenants”.

Earlier this year, the government launched a call for evidence on the governance and accountability arrangements for “delegated management organisations”, including TMOs and ALMOs. 

The action comes after the inquiry’s final report found that Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, which oversaw Grenfell Tower, “regarded some of the residents as militant troublemakers”.

Elsewhere in its response, MHCLG confirmed plans for new laws forcing housing associations and councils to carry out “stringent” electrical safety checks on homes every five years. Legislation will be introduced “in the coming months”.

Other planned reforms, as a result of the inquiry, include introducing a new single construction regulator to “stamp out bad practice and drive higher standards”.

A legal duty of candour will be introduced through a new Hillsborough Law, “compelling public authorities to disclose the truth, ensuring transparency in major incidents, and holding those responsible for failures to account”.

The government also said it will be extending its Social Housing Resident Panel, which it said allows residents to “influence government policies to improve social housing”.

It added: “We also commit to exploring further reforms to deliver systemic change to how all residents’ voices are heard and reliably acted upon.” 

In addition, the government said it will extend its Four Million Homes resident training programme and continue the ‘Make things right’ advertising campaign, which aims to help residents better understand and exercise their rights. 

Ms Rayner said the government will “drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again”.

“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making. We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives,” she said.