Five councils are considering using a tenant participation model to help meet the decent homes standard.
Under the Chartered Institute of Housing initiative, known as a "community gateway", tenants form a not-for-profit organisation that can take over stock through a transfer or act as an arm's-length management organisation.

The local authorities examining the model include Birmingham, Preston and King's Lynn & West Norfolk. The other two were unknown as Housing Today went to press.

Preston first announced its intention to adopt the model last year (HT 5 September 2002, page 12).

Its plans have been boosted with a grant of more than £100,000 from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Tony Hall, director of community at King's Lynn & West Norfolk council, said: "It's an option that's definitely on the cards. There's a lot of support for a gateway model that would give the tenants a greater say."

Sandwell council, which was considering the community gateway model, has now decided to bid for an ALMO instead.

Source

Housing Today