A new fund to identify and promote best practice by social housing providers in England has been launched by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).
Providers such as housing associations, local authorities and ALMOs are invited to make bids of up to £9,000 to support the development of agreements between landlords and their tenants to develop 'local deals'.
The aim is to enhance the level of service in response to particular local needs and strengthen landlord accountabilities to their local community.
The TSA is also keen to learn from providers who already involve their residents in the design and delivery of locally responsive services so that this existing best practice can be shared and used to inform the development of the TSA's Standards Framework.
Peter Marsh, TSA Chief Executive, said:
"We are really keen to support new and innovative schemes and identify best practice which people can learn from.
"We know from our National Conversation that local priorities vary from place to place and we want to support landlords to design and tailor services to meet the specific needs of local areas.
"We look forward to receiving a wide range of innovative bids from across the housing sector."
The deadline for submissions is 5th August 09.
The national tenant advisory body TPAS welcomed the Prime Minster's statement to Parliament setting out proposals for making the letting of social housing a matter of greater local choice.
In doing so, it called for tenants to be at the heart of the new Government proposals to introduce greater priority for local people in the letting of social housing.
TPAS restated its support the creation of strong, mixed communities and the importance of letting homes in a fair and transparent way. It recognises that communities are strengthened when they are built upon a clear choice by people to remain in the areas where their families live.
The creation of sustainable communities that are diverse but also based upon a positive desire by people to live in an area leads to stronger cohesive communities. This sense of belonging to an area can create more support and stability both for younger and older people. In short, it makes communities more attractive to the people who want to live in them.
TPAS Chief Executive Michelle Reid said:
"I welcome the Prime Minister's statement and its commitment to giving local people higher priority in council allocation schemes. This can only help to build sustainable communities.
"It is right to give local people in housing need more priority, and right to help people make a positive choice about where they want to live. Balanced with an inclusive approach to people from all communities, we believe this is a positive step forward for social housing.
"We believe that only by involving tenants in design and operation of local lettings will local needs be met fairly and sustainable communities created."
TPAS believes that in order to achieve this positive proposal councils across the country will need to amend their lettings policy to introduce local lettings priorities within their overall approach to Choice Based Lettings. TPAS is asking all councils to give a commitment to involve tenants in drawing up local lettings schemes.
TPAS has also welcomed the Prime Minister's proposals to fund 110,000 more affordable homes and the proposed consultation on giving Councils control over their rents, spending and capital receipts.
