HOUSING

Social housing tenants to get stronger voice under new reforms

Social housing tenants will be able to complain more effectively under new measures published by the Government.

Social housing tenants will be able to complain more effectively under new measures published by the Government.

The Social Housing White Paper will reform the Regulator of Social Housing and Housing Ombudsman to speed up the complaints process and give social housing residents a greater voice.

It also includes a new charter detailing what every social housing resident should expect from their landlord.

Housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: 'We are delivering on the commitment we made to the Grenfell community that, never again, would the voices of residents go unheard.

'This White Paper will bring transformational change for social housing residents, giving them a much stronger voice and, in doing so, refocusing the sector on its social mission.

'I want to see social housing tenants empowered by a regulatory regime and a culture of transparency, accountability, decency and service befitting of the best intentions and deep roots of social housing in this country.'

The Local Government Association (LGA) welcomed the reforms but called on the Government to tackle the shortage of social housing.

Vice chair of the District Councils' Network, Cllr Tom Beattie, added the White Paper was a 'real missed opportunity to address the massive demand for social housing, as more and more people find themselves in expensive and often unsuitable private rented housing'.

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