Last Updated on October 22, 2024
Category: News, Social Housing

Two new consumer standards have come into effect this year that will help shape the way housing associations engage with their tenants.

Regimes set forward by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) aim to improve tenant engagement processes to make them easily accessible and install a culture of transparency between landlords and their tenants.

Transparency, influence and accountability standards

This new consumer standard was published in April 2024 by the Regulator of Social Housing and incorporates the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) that were first mandated in 2023.

It states that tenants’ views must be taken into account in social landlord decision making and outcome communications should explain to tenants how their views have been considered. The aim is to provide tenants with opportunities to influence and scrutinise their landlord’s strategies, policies and services.

Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) requires principal accountable persons (social landlords, where they own and manage a high rise residential building) to prepare a resident engagement strategy, keep it under review, and act in accordance with it.

Resident Engagement Strategies should be individually written to take into account the specifics of the individual building. The BSR has published a guide covering the five key principles for successful resident engagement. This includes; understanding who lives in each building, engaging via multiple channels, communication approaches, listening to residents and ensuring an inclusive approach.

How can social landlords make sure they comply with the new requirements?

The new regulations will enforce the need for housing providers to prioritise tenant engagement, accurate record keeping, and encourage transparent information sharing.

The challenge for housing providers is to listen to their clients and act on feedback. One example of this could be picking up on patterns in complaints to ensure where there are issues being raised by a wide group, these are identified and addressed, rather than just being handled individually.

Tenant Engagement Software

TPTracker can be used to facilitate tenant engagement, monitor results, and data gathered used to recognise patterns.

With an easy to use dashboard and client profiles linked to your database, you’re able to set communication preferences and engage directly with clients individually or collectively in groups to gather feedback.

Record participation in activities, support initiatives, analyse results and generate reports that can be used to provide transparent information to your tenants.

It’s an information management system that has been specifically designed for the social housing sector to enhance tenant engagement.

Learn more and request a demo