The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed Professor Martin Cave’s review of social housing regulation and is pleased that Government has accepted the key measures that will put four million tenants first in the drive to improve services.

Martin Cave’s report ‘Every Tenant Matters: a review of social housing regulation’ was launched at the CIH’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate by Professor Cave and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly. The focus of regulation will now shift from provider to customer and will take account of the range of organisations offering a variety of affordable housing services within a strategic framework set out by regional and local bodies.

The Secretary of State also took the opportunity at conference to launch a consultation paper on tenant empowerment to seek views on many of the proposals contained in Cave’s report.

Sarah Webb, Deputy Chief Executive said: "CIH has long argued that changes are needed to the regulatory system to match the changing context of affordable housing. Cave’s proposals for domain regulation, an independent regulator, strengthening of the collective and individual resident voice, cooperation with the local authority strategic housing role, and greater stakeholder input into regulatory intervention were all on our wish list of outcomes from the review, and we are delighted to see that these are at the heart of today's proposals.

"CIH is glad that residents in particular stand to gain a great deal from the proposed reforms. The right to audit their landlord, to input into the activities of the regulator, and to have a choice of housing provider without moving house would provide a much stronger incentive for good provider performance than currently exists.

"Our ideas around resident-led self-regulation, in which housing providers’ systems to manage their own behaviour and performance give power as well as influence to residents, are directly compatible with Cave’s proposed regulatory framework. We are already working to develop the detail of how our proposals can be embedded in a reformed regulatory system to deliver better housing outcomes for residents.

"Effective provision of affordable housing increasingly depends on strong partnerships and a culture of accountability and trust between those with an interest in that provision. The creation of an independent regulator will give a strong voice to all the key stakeholders in England's affordable housing provision, putting the views and interests of residents, government and providers on a more equal footing than now. The requirement for housing providers to cooperate with the aims of the local authority, and the ability of key stakeholders to report any concerns to the regulator should also tighten partnerships between local agencies and aid the creation of sustainable communities", concluded Sarah Webb.

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(Issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, Media Relations Officer, CIH Press Office, Octavia House, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JP. Telephone 07786 716961. Press@cih.org).

Notes to Editors:

- The CIH is the professional body for individuals working in housing. Its primary aim is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well-being of communities. CIH has over 20,000 individual members working for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector.  Further information is available at: www.cih.org

- Tenant Empowerment a consultation paper can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1511393

- Further Reading: Resident-led Self Regulation – Potential and Prospects at: http://www.cih.org/policy/resident-led-self-regulation.pdf

- Further Reading: Resident-led Self Regulation – Development and Application at: http://www.cih.org/policy/resident-led-self-regulation-development-and-application.pdf