Agenda item

To receive a presentation on the Social Housing White Paper Update.

Members received a presentation from the Housing Strategy Manager on the Social Housing White Paper Update.

The Social Housing White Paper came about following the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017. The resulting enquiry identified failings of the Social Housing provider and the Government subsequently committed to a programme of reform for social housing tenants.

Consultation in 2018 produced the Government’s social housing white paper called ‘The Charter for Social Housing Residents’ which had to be considered in conjunction with other Government measures introduced such as The Building Safety Bill, The Fire Safety Bill and the Housing Ombudsman’s New Complaint Handling Code.

The Social Housing White Paper outlined seven key commitments; these were:

·       to Be Safe in your Home,

·       to Know your Landlord is Performing,

·       to have your complaints dealt with promptly and fairly,

·       to be treated with respect backed by a strong consumer regulator for tenants,

·       to have your voice heard by your landlord,

·       to have a good quality home and neighbourhood to live in,

·       to be supported to take your first step to ownership.

Since the publication of the social housing white paper, significant work has been done in preparation, despite much of the detail only recently being published. Moving forward, the council have A Social Housing Reform (SHR) Project Group, developed a comprehensive and fluid action plan, made the Social Housing Reform Bill a standard agenda item at Senior Leadership Team, committed to a progress update at every Cabinet Housing Panel meeting and committed to updates through the council’s project reporting system.

Members noted that it was unknown when exactly the Bill will become law, but the council are working towards the month of April 2023 as this aligns with the Social Housing Regulator’s new tenant’s satisfaction measures that will come into effect.

The following points were raised and discussed:

·       Members were happy to see the seven new standards and making sure the tenants came first.

·       Members stated that the White Paper was expected to come into effect in 2023 but in the presentation, it states it ‘becomes law in 2022’.  Officers said this was regarding the Ombudsman powers that had to be introduced quite quickly after publication of the White Paper.  Officers clarified that ‘becomes law in 2022’ meant that as the bill is progressing through, additional items are being published as part of it. 

·       Officers said this is not yet law and that it is a code of guidance that the council have to adhere to and when the Bill passes, the code of guidance will then become law.

·       Officers said that the officer project group, would remain officer only. The group has developed a social housing matrix where the council have assessed the service as it was back in 2020 to what the council felt it needed to be, to meet regulatory requirements by the time it became legislation. With every new piece of information that gets published, the group looks at it and determine whether the service meets that requirement or not.  As part of that process the council are developing a new resident engagement strategy which is where tenant input will be sought.

·       The council have a new Resident Engagement Officer, who is leading on the tenant engagement strategy. The new tenant satisfaction measures will be monitored and published annually, and every social housing landlord will be judged on the response from their residents. The council has to ensure that residents not only understand about the safety of their building, but they also need to feel safe in the building. There is money available from the government to help residents form groups and prepare for this, which shows the priority tenants are being given.

·       Officers also stated a key part of the White Paper is co-regulation, so its involving tenants in the governance of housing management, so it's important that the Residents Panel have a part to play in this. Officers are getting feedback on services from customers and are looking at how they can engage tenants and customers using new technology. The residents are at the heart, as the residents’ panel is key to making this work, and officers will be working with the panel closely.

·       Members asked if, like previously, they could receive reports from the tenants’ panel in the future. The Chair stated that the new Resident Engagement Officer will be looking at that and how it will be shaped moving forwards.

·       The Chair said it would be good to organise some member development on the White Paper for all members and not just members of the Cabinet Housing Panel.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

Members noted the update and presentation.

(Note:  The presentation is attached to these Minutes).