The Government launched its ten-week consultation on a new Respect Standard for Housing Management. The Standard aims to encapsulate the core components of an effective strategy for tackling antisocial behaviour and delivering respect, as well as build on the achievements of some housing managers who are leading the way in dealing with antisocial behaviour.
The Government's proposals will encourage social landlords to sign up to the Standard, thus signalling their commitment to help create, sustain and improve places where people feel bound together by shared values and where antisocial behaviour and disrespect for people and local environments are not tolerated.
The consultation closes on 21 June 2006.
The cross-government Respect Action Plan was published in January 2006. It sets out a framework of powers and approaches to promote respect positively, bear down uncompromisingly on antisocial behaviour, tackle its causes and offer leadership and support to local people and local services.
The Action Plan includes a commitment to develop a new Respect Standard for housing management, which is the subject of this consultation exercise.
Following publication of a final Standard, drawing on views expressed through this consultation, the Government will embark on a campaign to encourage landlords to sign up to the standard. In considering this, landlords will need to consider the level, quality and scope of services they provide and whether this meets the benchmark set by the Standard.
An Appeal Court ruling that suspended Possession Orders automatically became outright Possession Orders after 28 days - even if the terms of the Order have been adhered to - caused widespread concern.
The ruling came in a case earlier this year, where a bankrupt tenant was contesting the right of Harlow Council to take action to evict him. The action revealed a legal problem in the wording of suspended Possession Orders.
The implication could be that tenants issued with standard suspended Possession Orders, with the intention of there being no further action providing that conditions of the Order are maintained, may discover their occupation status becomes that of tolerated trespasser.
The standard wording in suspended Possession Orders causing the legal problem was introduced in March 2002 and thousands of tenants could be affected. By losing their secure tenancy status, tenants also forfeit their Right to Buy, succession rights, and many of their other tenancy benefits - including the right to expect landlord responsibility repairs to their homes.
It is thought that the ruling only applies to secure tenancies and most association tenants with assured tenancies are unlikely to be affected. The decision is likely to come under close scrutiny and it may take a test case to further clarify the issue.
The ruling did close the loophole that allowed tenants to avoid possession proceedings by declaring themselves bankrupt.
The contractor Mears was brought in to manage the running of Shoreline Property Services after three senior managers were suspended. There have been allegations of a substantial overspend and an investigation has been launched. It is understood that fraud is not considered an issue and management problems are the subject of scrutiny.
Shoreline Property Services is the repair subsidiary of Shoreline Housing Partnership, which was set up in March 2005 for the transfer of 8,500 homes from North East Lincolnshire Council. It was a notable transfer, as it was the first to be supported by Government gap funding to cover the negative value of the stock and was awarded £17 million over three years.
Two senior executives at South Kilburn New Deal for Communities were suspended following allegations they were living in a council dwelling without authority. It is understood that the two had been using a maisonette on the South Kilburn Estate for over three years as their own free weekday accommodation. Brent Council has a housing waiting list of over 16,000.
