The first ever chair of the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (Oftenant), was announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint today.

Anthony Mayer, currently chief executive of the Greater London Authority, will initially take responsibility for overseeing the development and implementation of the regulator, and will become its first chair once the Housing and Regeneration Bill receives Royal Assent.

The new social housing regulator will listen to tenants' concerns and have powers to ensure they are receiving a good service.

Oftenant will have new sanctions to use where tenants are getting a poor service from landlords, including requiring that landlords pay compensation or in serious cases change their housing manager.

Where landlords provide a good service to tenants, the regulator will cut red tape, with no routine inspections and paperwork kept to a minimum, allowing them to concentrate on providing even better services to tenants and building new homes.

The regulator will initially cover housing associations, but Ministers will seek to extend it to local authority landlords and tenants within two years of it being set up.

Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint said:
"I am delighted that Anthony is taking on the role of chair of the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords. He will bring a wealth of experience to the role with an excellent track record in social housing, local government and the financial sector.

"The regulator will ensure that all social house tenants are well protected and enjoy a good standard of service from their landlords, with powers to impose penalties on those who are not maintaining high standards."