TSA to promote higher standards in UK’s social housing

Posted under General by Alan

The Government appointed Tenant Services Authority (TSA) aims to enhance standards in UK social housing and serve as a watchdog for the UK’s eight million tenants of social housing.

TSA chief executive has promised to accord top priority to participation of tenants in the body, which will be organising national consultation meets commencing from December and continuing through till March 2009.

TSA would also be involving registered social landlords and monitor their financial condition with close observation on their exposure to economic downturn.

The Government has also launched Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), assigning it task of developing new housing and regeneration.

TSA and HCA have been formed as a result of amalgamation of the Housing Corporation. The national regeneration agency, English Partnerships, and social housing projects were previously funded by the Housing Corporation.

HCA would undertake new developments using its three-year budgeted amount of £17.4bn to provide affordable social housing.

HCA chief executive, Sir Robert Kerslake declared that he would put in all efforts to encourage councils to construct new homes. He also indicated that HCA would work in close co-ordination with house building firms and may take stakes in private housing development projects.