You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Ministers consider sector ‘league tables’ for Social Housing Green Paper
Ministers have been exploring the idea of ‘league tables’ of housing associations as a key policy recommendation in the imminent Social Housing Green Paper.
Multiple sources told Inside Housing this week that officials had been developing the idea of publicly available leagues tables to rank associations’ performance in terms of services to tenants.
Sources said the league table suggestion would involve ranking housing associations on key metrics, such as the time taken to complete repairs, customer satisfaction or complaints.
READ MORE
The paper is expected to include proposals surrounding a beefed-up role for consumer standards in regulation and suggestions of ways to reduce stigma for social housing tenants.
However, despite being discussed in detail with the housing sector, it is not known whether these measures will make the final draft of the key policy document, particularly given the recent shift in housing ministers.
Sector sources have expressed concern that league tables could prove too simplistic as a way of ranking services.
The government has not confirmed a publication date for the document, but has committed to releasing it before Parliament goes into recess for the summer on Tuesday.
Sources outside government have been told to expect publication today.
It is understood ministers have considered turning the document into a ‘white paper’ and including clear policy proposals rather than headline aims, although this is believed to have been dropped.
The green paper is expected to focus on tackling stigma, encouraging homeownership, giving residents more influence over services, better recourse for escalating complaints and increased transparency.
The Social Housing Green Paper was announced by Sajid Javid in September last year, as part of the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Mr Javid said the paper would be “top-to-bottom review of the issues facing the sector” and represent “the most substantial report of its kind for a generation”.
Since then, housing ministers Alok Sharma and Dominic Raab have carried out a series of round table discussions with social housing tenants to discuss the policy proposals before both were reshuffled to different ministerial roles.
The government had previously promised to publish the document by spring, before moving the date back to the end of the current Parliamentary term.
