Tenants help shape social housing standards for landlords

A2Dominion has launched a second round of resident consultation events as part of the Tenant Services Authority’s (TSA) National Conversation initiative.

In Ealing, where A2Dominion manages more than 3,000 homes, residents were the first to get their say on a new set of proposed standards that have been drawn up by the TSA, the country’s affordable housing regulator.

The event, on Thursday June 18 at the West London YMCA, saw tenants being quizzed on newly proposed standards for dealing with anti-social behaviour and security, repairs and maintenance and tenant empowerment.

A2Dominion, due to its impressive track record of resident involvement, has been picked by the TSA as a regional trailblazer to help other housing providers deliver National Conversation events.

Fiona Cornell, A2Dominion Regional Operational Director, said: “It was a very successful event, with tenants being asked what they thought was good about the new standards, what was not so good, and if they felt anything was missing from the draft proposals.

“We received some very useful feedback which we will be communicating back to the TSA as it moves to finalising its first ever standards for landlords.”

Ealing resident Anne Murray, who attended the event, said: “It was good to get our views across and be listened to. If these events influence higher standards across the UK, it will be a very good thing.”

The TSA launched the first phase of the National Conversation in January this year, and thousands of tenants from housing associations up and down the country gave their views on social housing standards.

The feedback from the initial events was used to draw up the proposed new set of standards, which are now being consulted on. Once finalised, they will apply to all social housing landlords in England from 2010.

A2Dominion has so far scheduled a further seven events for July across London and Kent.