In November 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) published The Charter for Social Housing Residents: Social Housing White Paper (SHWP).
The SHWP set out what every social housing resident should be able to expect from their landlord:
- To be safe at home. We will work with industry and landlords to ensure every home is safe and secure
- To know how your landlord is performing, including on repairs, complaints and safety and how it spends its money, so you can hold it account
- To have your complaints dealt with promptly and fairly, with access to a strong Ombudsman who will give you swift and fair redress when needed
- To be treated with respect, backed by a strong consumer regulator and improved consumer standards for tenants
- To have your voice heard by your landlord, for example through regular meetings, scrutiny panels or being on its Board. The Government will provide help, if you want it, to give you the tools to ensure your landlord listens
- To have a good quality home and neighbourhood to live in, with your landlord keeping your home in good repair
- To be supported to take your first step to ownership, so it is a ladder to other opportunities, should your circumstances allow
The Government has now created an expert panel to advise it on the delivery of the SHWP. The Panel will consist of fourteen organisations including ones which represent tenants, housing organisations, local authorities and professionals working in social housing.