on the web follow us on twitter: @tapwales tenants at the heart of regulation

On the web www.tapwales.org.uk Follow us on twitter: @TAPWales

Tenants at the heart of regulation


TAPTenants Advisory Panel

and the

RBWRegulatory Board Wales


How we are structured?

• 15 members from across Wales• Balance of small medium and large

HAs• The period of service shall be for 3

years on the basis of 1/3rd retiring annually

3

2

4

6


Core Principles

• TAP will not simply be reactive to the considerations of the RBW but also generate issues to send to the regulatory board and act as a sounding board for policy considerations.

• TAP will maintain regular contact with tenants through a range of existing and new networks.

• Accountability to tenants as service users nationally inputting to the regulatory process


Core Aims

• Act as a service user panel from which the RBW can consult on housing service issues and from which tenants can share concerns or praise with RBW.

• Support the regulator to meet its terms of reference as agreed by the minister


What do we do?

• Help to develop, as well as challenge, the principles underpinning self assessment

• Contribute to regulation team’s understanding of the particular HA or common issue tenants face

• Ability to challenge the regulator• Potentially become involved in testing quality of

services e.g. mystery shopping, telephone surveys of service users


How do we link into the regulatory structure ?

The Minister for Housing and

Regeneration

The Regulatory Board for Wales

The Tenants Advisory Panel

The Welsh Government as

regulator

Interaction with service

users

WTF conference September

TPAS Cymru Conference

November

Regional ATTAIN events

4 annually per region


Changes to regulation

• Previous system focused predominantly on commissioning the Wales Audit Office to undertake service reviews

• Efficiency – This was considered costly and bureaucratic to deliver and manage and focused largely on landlords adherence to process

• Service delivery – There was little focus on delivering what tenants want! with centrally dictated performance targets

• New approach - is meant to balance freedoms with responsibilities and be more exacting about what landlords achieve rather than how they achieve it


Changes to regulation

• Some of these issues were identified by the Essex review that produced 47 recommendations. Regulatory did not focus adequately on some of the perceived risks i.e.

• Finances - are HA’s using their income to good effect (high levels of reserves, borrowing risks, etc.)

• Governance - Are they being governed well – and do they have the right level of expertise on board to govern ?

• Policy outcomes - Are HA’s contributing to broader policy objectives such as fuel poverty, affordability, health and well being and other policy objective – could they do more


About the new regulatory regime

Key activities in the regulatory framework

• Self Assessment

• Evidencing delivery outcomes

• Relationship management

• Accountability to service users


About the new regulatory regime

What does self assessment cover

• All that Housing associations do i.e. Service delivery and quality; financial viability; management; governance

• Focussed on outcomes - demonstrate that they meet broad outcomes - details of delivery to be sorted out locally by tenants and landlords

• Evidence based with boards taking ownership

• Challenge – internal and external/ tenants, service users, stakeholders


How will the regulators assess landlords?

INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE REGULATORY TEAM

Hard Intelligence

Self assessment evidence

Financial information

Other external judgements

Other WG evaluations and audits

Performance information

Complaints and whistle blowing

Soft Intelligence

Testing of service delivery

Ongoing stakeholder contact

Ongoing contact within WG

Ongoing contact with HAs

Annual outputs

Annual Judgement on Financial ViabilityAnnual Regulatory Assessment ReportPublished thematic reviewsQuarterly Regulatory news


Aspirations of regulation for Wales What does a successful regulatory regime look like?

• Better participation by communities in the management and governance of RSLs with tenants able to shape future decision making

• Greater accountability and openness

• Better understanding of the risks facing the social housing sector and how to respond to them

• Learn together, sharing good practice

• Better corporate governance

• Good repair services that respond to the evolving needs of tenants

• Strong healthy and vibrant housing sector


Q&A

Are you at the heart of your association ?

What are the issues we should focus on ?

What do you consider to be the priorities for us ?


Thank you for listening

Do you have any further questions?

on the web follow us on twitter: @tapwales tenants at the heart of regulation

Documents