The four national tenants' organisations have expressed huge concern about the Coalition Government's decision to cease funding and support for the National Tenant Voice (NTV).
TAROE, TPAS, the Confederation of Co-operative Housing and the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations issued a joint statement after Housing Minister Grant Shapps confirmed that government funding for the NTV would be withdrawn from the end of August.
Cora Carter, Chair of TAROE, said:
"This announcement is a major blow, not just for those involved with the National Tenant Voice, but for the whole tenant movement in the country."
Peter Coleing, Chair of TPAS said:
"The National Tenant Organisations played a key part in the creation of the National Tenant Voice, and this decision will be viewed by many as a dilution of the importance of tenants views."
Nic Bliss, Chair of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, said:
"Tenant representatives and others worked hard, on a voluntary basis, for more than two years, at the request of Communities & Local Government, to set the National Tenant Voice up to ensure that tenants had more say.
"The NTV, itself governed by a voluntary board, had the potential to mobilise thousands of tenant volunteers to improve their communities and so it offered excellent value for money. We are worried about the signal that this move sends to tenants."
Terry Edis, Chair of the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations, said:
"The National Tenant Organisations will obviously continue to work with the Coalition Government to highlight the needs of tenants, and this step highlights more than ever the need for us to work together to represent tenants' interests.
"The eyes of the sector are now on the Government, and we will be looking for them to demonstrate how they are committed to tenants in England."
The four National Tenant Organisations will be seeking to meet with the Government to identify how tenants can continue to have a voice in developing Government policy.
Their joint statement added:
"It is imperative that the interests of tenants do not get sidelined. The Minister gave a clear undertaking at the CIH Housing Conference that he wanted to work with the national tenant organisations in delivering the Government's vision for the sector and they are prepared and eager to respond to this invitation to ensure that tenants' interests remain at the forefront in the housing sector."
