The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is the new regulator for homes owned by housing associations, replacing the Housing Corporation.
They will be setting up a brand new set of standards, against which social landlords will be monitored. Through a new project called ‘National Conversation’, the TSA will collect tenants’ views to help determine what these new standards will be.*
Even more resident involvement
At CBHA, we already involve residents at all levels of the organisation and are now encouraging tenants to take part. This is your opportunity to help set the standards for all social landlords and make sure that services for tenants continue to improve. So do get involved.
A number of Regional and Local Conversation events will be taking place over the coming weeks and months.
Matthew Weekes is CBHA’s National Conversation Champion and he will be able to tell you where regional and local events are being held and how you can attend. You can contact Matthew at head office via the usual contact details on 020 7922 8500.
Have a ‘Local Conversation’
Contact our head office to find out about local conversation events in our local areas, or why not set up your own?
As well as organising regional events across the country as part of the national Conversation’, the TSA would like tenants to set up their own ‘Local Conversation’ events so that their local community can have its say.
Local Conversations don’t have to be formal – they could be a group of tenants getting together for an hour or so over a cup of tea in somebody’s home or in a community centre. If you’d like to organise your own event, you can order a resource pack from the TSA on 0845 230 7000 (Option 1) and get more information on the website: www.nationalconversation.co.uk.
The pack includes detailed facilitator notes to help tenants host an event.
The process is really simple:
- Read the background information – it tells you all about TSA and its objectives
- Watch the introductory DVD – it talks more about the National Conversation and what it hopes to achieve (speak to CBHA about providing a laptop or DVD player for your event)
- Have a discussion about what makes a great landlord – some example questions will be included in the pack to kick start the discussion
- Complete the questionnaire – there will be one for each attendee
- Send the questionnaires back to the research agency in the pre-paid envelope provided together with any notes that you have taken
Local Conversation events will need to take place by Thursday 12 March 2009 – and don’t forget to let CBHA know about your event as they will be able to help!
You can visit the National Conversation website, http://www.nationalconversation.co.uk/, to promote and find out where all local and regional events are happening. The resource pack contains details of how to register your own local event on the website, otherwise CBHA will be able to assist with this.
*Please note that the National Conversation is not aimed at leaseholders – under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, the TSA has responsibility for setting standards which cover tenants and shared owners but not leaseholders, who have protection under different legislation.
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