TPAS Annual Conference 2014 Registered Tenant Organisations What are they & what they’re not?! Ann Marie Stanley Tenant Priorities Team

Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

Tenant Participation Legislation Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 New duties for landlords Resources required TP strategy Register of tenants’ groups New rights for tenants – information & consultation

Housing (Scotland) Act 2010  Scottish Social Housing Charter  Standards and outcomes landlords should be achieving for their tenants and other customers  Outcome 3 – Participation ‘Social landlords must manage their businesses so that tenants & other customers find it easy to participate in and influence their landlord’s decisions at a level they feel comfortable with’  Role of Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR)

Registration of Tenant Organisations Gives formal recognition and legal right to be consulted All Councils, Housing Associations/Co-ops (RSLs) must have a publicly available register of these groups, and Groups must meet national criteria set in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

Registration Criteria Written Constitution Election of office bearers Gives opportunities for members to express views Ensures that elected officers report to their members How funds will be managed, and Commitment to the promotion of the housing and housing related interests of tenants

The committee must….. Be elected at an AGM (after the first year) Have at least 3 members Gives opportunities for members to express views Has elected office bearers Can demonstrate that decisions are reached democratically Promotes equal opportunities, and Presents an audited financial statement at the AGM

Landlords must…. Maintain a public register of RTOs that is available for inspection at reasonable times (for example, during office hours) Work with and support new, developing and established tenant organisations in terms of staff and financial resources (for example, training, administration support and making premises available to hold meetings), and Arrangements clearly set out in their Tenant Participation Strategy

Removal from the Register  The organisation no longer meets the registration criteria; or  The organisation ceases to exist or does not operate; or  There is mutual agreement between the landlord and tenants organisation.  Removal from the Register should take place only after an agreed period of notice.

Appeals An organisation may appeal against a landlord's decision: not register the organisation; or remove the organisation from the Register; or not remove the organisation from the Register.

Appeals……… An organisation may appeal against a landlord's decision: not register the organisation; or remove the organisation from the Register; or not remove the organisation from the Register.

RTO Registration… Discussion Point

Benefits of Getting Involved Improving the community Increased Community spirit Better links between landlord & tenant representatives Personal development

What Can Be Achieved? Builds trust and understanding Effective working relations Better informed Service Users Improvements to service delivery Increased Tenants Satisfaction