Rotherham Council has retained its Tpas accreditation for the second time.
It follows a rigorous assessment process where Tpas, the national tenant engagement organisation, looked at how the Council housing service engages with tenants.
The award recognises the Council’s commitment to resident involvement and ensures their approach is effective and offers the best value for money. This enabled the Council to achieve the ‘Tpas PRO Landlord Accreditation in Resident Involvement’ for a further three years.
The Council has achieved the maximum of pass units within this re-accreditation with the Tpas internal assessment panel impressed with the positive engagement journey undertaken since the last accreditation.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Dominic Beck, said: "This is once again really good news for the Council and our tenants and residents. However, this can only be achieved through listening to and involving our tenants and residents on how we can improve their homes, estates and services.
“I would like to thank all our staff, Rotherham Federation of Communities and especially all of our tenants and residents who have worked with us for many years to strengthen our housing service and contributed to earning this re-accreditation."
The process involved a full assessment of the Council's approach to tenant engagement and also included reality checking and interviews with staff and tenants.
Mary Jacques, Rotherham Council tenant, Vice Chair of Rotherham Council’s Housing Involvement Panel and Chair of Rotherham Federation of Communities, said: “Achieving this accreditation just shows how much tenant involvement has evolved and developed in Rotherham. It’s really evident that tenants now have a significant role within the Housing Service.
“They have chance to have a say at a strategic level and have an active involvement in scrutinising and shaping council services. Another achievement is seeing our younger tenants wanting to get involved."
Jenny Osbourne, Chief Executive of Tpas, added: "I am delighted that Rotherham Council has built on their earlier achievements and continue to impress me with their strategic and diverse approach towards tenant engagement. They continue to demonstrate that they listen and are responsive to the needs of their residents. They have broadened their tenant engagement by offering a range of ways that tenants can get involved including digital opportunities and at the same time continue working the Tenants and Resident Associations in their neighbourhoods.”
The award panel also praised the partnership between the Council and Rotherham Federation of Communities and also identified other areas of good practice such as the Tenant Engagement Framework, Tenancy health check forms looking at the wider health and wellbeing agenda, Scrutiny Panel and listening and acting upon culture throughout the organisation.
Find out more about how to get involved in Rotherham Council’s Housing service by visiting www.rotherham.gov.uk/housing.
To find out about Tpas, the national tenant engagement organisation visit www.tpas.org.uk
