CIH backs new social housing framework

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has given its full backing to the new regulatory framework for social housing, published today by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).

CIH believes the new framework, effective from 1 April 2010, will drive forward change and improvements for tenants across the whole of social housing.

With the extensive consultation now at an end, the final framework remains broadly the same as the consultation framework published in November 2009. However, there are some important changes for housing professionals to consider, including:

*More clarity on how TSA will deal with complaints and the role of the ombudsman;
*How inspections will be commissioned, including ALMO inspections;
*Explicitly making the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment a cross cutting standard;
*More guidance on how providers will be expected to report their performance against the standards.

Richard Capie, CIH Director of Policy and Practice said: "It has been a lengthy consultation process, but conducted in a thorough and professional manner by the TSA. However, the time for talking is over and it is now up to the sector to respond. Meeting the challenge posed by the new framework will be hugely demanding for the whole of the housing domain. However, it is one we should all get behind to deliver change and improvement for tenants."