The Regulatory Challenge

1. The Regulatory Challenge Richard Sorensen Tenant Services Coordinator 0161 242 5965 richard.sorensen@tsa.gsx.gov.uk

2. Why regulate? • Imperfect Market • Shortage of supply means little consumer choice • Market not driven by the consumer • Protecting public money • Accountability • Not to tenants • Not to the electorate • Not to shareholders • Housing associations are only truly accountable to the regulator • Housing Corporation focused on • Governance • Viability

3. Smoke and mirrors • Housing Corporation powers: • Statutory enquiry • Appointment of board members • The regulation of housing associations is a delicate balance based on: • trust • consensus

4. Tenant Services Authority • Ultimately domain based • Housing associations • Private sector • Local authorities • ALMOs • Consumer focused • Services to tenants and communities • Improving choice • A tenant centred approach to regulation

5. Our Purpose • We are here to raise the standard of services for tenants: to champion the needs and aspirations of tenants, both those within and those as yet unable to access affordable housing to challenge providers of affordable housing services to meet or exceed the highest standards of organisational effectiveness and service delivery to shape the affordable housing landscape by introducing choice for tenants and providers • And in so doing, act as a catalyst for change to • improve the lives of ten million people

6. Why we are different • In everything we do, we think ‘what does this mean’ for tenants and potential tenants • We are a Regulator and not an Investor • We are independent • We have clear strategic objectives that set out our responsibilities in law • We have a new, more flexible, set of intervention tools • We will regulate homes owned by both housing associations and local authorities

7. Key features of TSA • Stronger role for the regulator to protect tenants • More flexible regulation, with reduced burdens • Co-regulatory approach backed by swift, targeted powers • Enabling clause for introduction of regulation of local authorities and ALMOs

8. Every Tenant Matters Whoever the landlord is: • Clarity for tenants about the standards of service they should receive • Assurance that their views on standards and service quality are central to their landlord’s business management • Information available to TSA and tenants that allow clear assessment of performance • Confidence for tenants that if performance is not good that the failure will be put right

9. Tenants should….. • be involved in setting targets for key services • be involved in monitoring performance including the ability to trigger action by the regulator • Have access to information performance, benchmarked to similar landlords for comparison • Be able to network and share ideas about their experiences • Tenant involvement should be an integral part of landlord performance

10. The Timeline • October-November 2008 set-up phase • Outline TSA mission • Operational Readiness – Day 1 • Recruit ‘top’ posts and agree interim structures • December 2008-March 2009 phase 1a • Launch of national consultation with tenants • through meetings, workshops, focus groups, • vox pop, websites, written materials. Commence TSA Restructure • April–July 2009 phase 1b • Wider consultation with sector on standards and • our regulatory approach. Complete restructure • and recruitment

11. The Timeline(part 2) August–November 2009 phase 1c • Statutory consultation on standards throughout domain. New website and information sharing tools. Fees policy and funding for domain agreed. December 2009 (or earlier) phase 2 • New standard framework launched, 2008 Act regulatory powers ‘switched on’ for RSLs and Register of housing providers opened up April 2010 phase 3 • entry of local authorities into regulatory regime

12. The future is in your hands….. • Any questions…..