Communities and Local Government
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- Housing
- Social housing management
- Tenant participation and empowerment
- Tenant Participation Compacts
- Tenant participation: Frequently asked questions
Tenant participation: Frequently asked questions
What are tenant participation compacts?
Compacts are locally negotiated agreements between councils and their tenants setting out how they can get involved in decisions that affect them. Compacts will help tenants to decide how they wish to be involved in influencing and shaping decisions on housing issues in ways which meet their needs and priorities.
What are tenant participation compacts for?
They are part of the Government's agenda to improve local services, increase local democracy and strengthen and sustain local communities. The aim of compacts is to bring about real and lasting changes in the relationship between council landlords and tenants and bring tenants into the heart of decision-making affecting their homes and their communities.
Where can tenants complain if they are unhappy about their compact?
We believe that disputes should be worked through locally and resolved by the parties directly involved. A good compact should set out how complaints are to be dealt with. Tenant participation and compacts are both integral to best value. The Housing Inspectorate takes these very seriously and will look at local authority performance on them as part of their scheduled inspections.
What happens if tenants and councils are unable to resolve their dispute about the compact locally?
Tenants should refer to their local compact in the first instance as set out above. They may also wish to refer to the National Framework for Tenant Participation Compacts, first published by the Department in June 1999 and National Framework for Tenant Participation Compacts in March 2005.
However, if the parties involved are unable to resolve their dispute in this way, independent mediation and arbitration services are available, the details of which can be found in the Resolving disputes between council landlords and tenants on using Tenant Participation Compacts to resolve disputes between Council Landlords and Tenants.
Has there been any research on tenant participation in England?
Some of the Tenant Participation Compacts is available on this site.
What progress have local authorities made in introducing compacts?
For up-to-date information on our research please see link above.
Are there any plans to monitor the implementation of compacts?
DTLR (now Communities and Local Government) and Housing Corporation commissioned Aldbourne Associates to monitor the first year implementation of best value in housing (bvh) and tenant participation compacts (tpc) from April 2000. A summary of the findings - Implementing Best Value in Housing and Tenant Participation Compacts - was published in 2002 and is available on the link above. More recently, ODPM (now Communities and Local Government) commissioned Aldbourne Associates to undertake an interim evaluation of compacts as part of the current review of the main guidance on compacts - The National Framework for Tenant Participation Compacts. This interim evaluation - Interim Evaluation of Tenant Participation Compacts - was published in 2003 and is also available on the link above. The research found that all Councils have now published compacts and, overall, they have provided tenants with greater opportunities to get involved in decision-making about their homes.
Is there a model compact?
In drafting the framework a conscious decision was taken not to provide councils with a model compact or guidelines on what a compact might physically look like. This was because councils would be at very different starting points in relation to tenant participation and compacts need to reflect local circumstances, local priorities and the wishes of local tenants. Examples of compacts can be seen by going to the TPAS and the Housing Quality Network websites.
What will the Government do if local authorities do not implement compacts?
Councils performance in delivering what is agreed in compacts will be independently scrutinised by the Housing Inspectorate.
Will there be legislation to make compacts a statutory requirement?
Whilst tenant participation compacts are not a statutory requirement, legislation does exist in relation to best value and compacts are inextricably linked to it.
How are compacts linked to Best Value?
Tenant participation compacts are complementary to best value and are fundamental to the delivery of it. Compacts will help tenants play an integral role in the development and improvement of the housing management service.
Do tenants have a voice under the Government's new local government modernisation structures?
Overview and scrutiny committees will review the policy framework for an effective delivery of a particular council service. They are expected to invite relevant co-optee groups (such as tenants' groups) to give their input: either as part of the committee, or by giving evidence to it.
How can tenants influence decisions in the new council structures being set up?
New structures must be drawn up in consultation with the community. Council policy and development will need input from all key stakeholders, so tenant input will be vital to a review of the housing service. The local compact should set out how tenants representatives will be involved in council policy development and review, including their role in overview and scrutiny committees.
Will compacts help tenants from ethnic minorities and others currently excluded from tenant participation?
Local authorities must look at innovative ways of reaching those tenants who are not involved at present. Councils should draw up equality strategies, negotiated with tenants to actively recruit tenants from ethnic minority and other under-represented groups. The aim of compacts is to include all tenants, including vulnerable groups like disabled people or single parents.
Why did local authorities get extra funding for tenant participation compacts?
On 23 June 1999 Hilary Armstrong, the Housing Minister at the time, announced that there would be an allocation of extra money (£12 million) to help councils with the extra set-up costs of developing compacts.
How did the DTLR (now Communities and Local Government) decide on councils tenant participation allowance for 2000-2001 and 2001-2002?
The allowance took into account: the size of the housing stock, with larger authorities receiving broadly higher allocations; scattered and rural communities (the consultation exercise on compacts showed that developing tenant participation was thought to be relatively more expensive and difficult to achieve in these areas); and an acknowledgement that some costs, such as staff costs, are higher in some areas of the country compared with others;
How was the tenant participation compact allowance allocated?
Funds were allocated through the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy system and were separately identified so that all councils and their tenants have been able to identify their compact allowance.
Does the tenant participation allowance given to local authorities replace the funding they normally use for tenant participation?
No. This additional funding was not allocated to replace existing local funding available for tenant participation in council areas. Tenant participation has always been an integral part of good housing management and should continue to be funded locally. The compact allowance was purely for the purpose of introducing compacts within the various local authority areas.
Have there been further financial allowances paid to councils following the end of the original compact allowance in 2001-2002?
No. Councils are expected to meet ongoing costs using existing resources.
Updated: 1 March 2005
