Office for Tenants and Social Landlords
Encyclopedia
The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is the operating name of the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords, the current regulatory agency of registered providers of social housing in England
.
The Tenant Services Authority first took over the regulatory work of the Housing Corporation
, inspecting housing association
s and responding to concerns. Its remit was then expanded to regulate local authority housing
, ALMO
s and housing cooperative
s from April 2010—almost 1,800 providers.
, led the most comprehensive review of English housing regulation for 30 years. Reporting in June, the Cave Review recommended that a new regulator be set up, separating the regulation and investment responsibilities of the Housing Corporation
.
After consultation with the sector, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper
announced the Government's decision and the name of the new regulator as "Office for Tenants and Social Landlords" on 15 October 2007. Its operating name was subsequently announced as the Tenant Services Authority.
The TSA was established by section 81 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. The same Act created the Homes and Communities Agency
to take over the investment powers of the Housing Corporation. Both became operational on 1 December 2008.
The equivalent powers in Scotland
and Wales
are held by the Scottish Housing Regulator and the Welsh Assembly Government.
In March 2010 the TSA published a new framework of six national standards which will apply to all social landlords in England. The standards are based on outcomes for tenants rather than processes. A new approach of "co-regulation" means that landlords will work with tenants to regulate themselves. The TSA will end routine inspections of all providers. Where landlords are not meeting the standards, the TSA will hold discussions with them before using its powers of formal intervention.
housing minister Grant Shapps
indicated his intention to close the TSA. Its responsibilities for governance and financial regulation of housing associations will pass to the HCA, but the Housing Ombudsman
will become the final point of appeal for tenants' complaints.
In September 2010, the HCA was also included on a list of organisations being considered for closure. However, Shapps announced in October that the TSA would be merged into the HCA.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The Tenant Services Authority first took over the regulatory work of the Housing Corporation
Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
, inspecting housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
s and responding to concerns. Its remit was then expanded to regulate local authority housing
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
, ALMO
Almo
Almo may refer to:*Almo , a river deity from Roman mythology*Almo, Idaho, a town in the United States*Almo Sounds, a record label*Almo and Coco, two fictional characters from the manga and video game series Galaxy Angel...
s and housing cooperative
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
s from April 2010—almost 1,800 providers.
Background
In 2007, Professor Martin Cave, Director of the Centre for Management under Regulation at University of WarwickUniversity of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
, led the most comprehensive review of English housing regulation for 30 years. Reporting in June, the Cave Review recommended that a new regulator be set up, separating the regulation and investment responsibilities of the Housing Corporation
Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
.
After consultation with the sector, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford since 2010, having previously been MP for Pontefract and Castleford since 1997. She served in the Cabinet between 2008 and 2010. She is the Shadow Home Secretary...
announced the Government's decision and the name of the new regulator as "Office for Tenants and Social Landlords" on 15 October 2007. Its operating name was subsequently announced as the Tenant Services Authority.
The TSA was established by section 81 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. The same Act created the Homes and Communities Agency
Homes and Communities Agency
The Homes and Communities Agency is the non-departmental public body that funds new affordable housing in England. It was established by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 as one of the successor bodies to the Housing Corporation, and became operational on 1 December 2008.-Background:On 17...
to take over the investment powers of the Housing Corporation. Both became operational on 1 December 2008.
The equivalent powers in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
are held by the Scottish Housing Regulator and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Management
The TSA's chief executive, Peter Marsh, is the former deputy chief executive of the Housing Corporation. Most of the other directors are from outside the Corporation.Approach to regulation
The TSA has more extensive powers than its predecessor, and emphasises its role as "a champion for tenants". Throughout 2009 it undertook a "National Conversation" with residents and other interested parties on how it should exercise these powers.In March 2010 the TSA published a new framework of six national standards which will apply to all social landlords in England. The standards are based on outcomes for tenants rather than processes. A new approach of "co-regulation" means that landlords will work with tenants to regulate themselves. The TSA will end routine inspections of all providers. Where landlords are not meeting the standards, the TSA will hold discussions with them before using its powers of formal intervention.
Prospective closure
After the 2010 UK General Election, the ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
housing minister Grant Shapps
Grant Shapps
Grant V Shapps MP is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Welwyn Hatfield in the United Kingdom and Minister of State for Housing and Planning...
indicated his intention to close the TSA. Its responsibilities for governance and financial regulation of housing associations will pass to the HCA, but the Housing Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
will become the final point of appeal for tenants' complaints.
In September 2010, the HCA was also included on a list of organisations being considered for closure. However, Shapps announced in October that the TSA would be merged into the HCA.