So, the Housing Corporation will give the go-ahead this summer to paying housing association board members ("Benefit issues may drive tenants away from boards", 25 April, page 7).

Has the corporation seriously thought about the complications this could cause, especially to tenant board members?

When I joined the board of my housing association approximately five years ago, I didn't join to be paid. I joined to further my interest in working for tenants' issues and to give, for what it's worth, my knowledge to the board – like all other members, who are from all walks of life. I'm sure they too never thought of getting paid, but now the Housing Corporation has stirred it up.

I hate to think what could happen. It's going to cost small associations a lot of money, which should be better spent on things such as CCTV, maintenance, area wardens and so on. I wonder if the Housing Corporation will come up with any other brilliant ideas like this.

Maybe the people who thought of this are board members?

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Len Smith, tenant board member and vice-chairman, Tenants' Link Executive Committee