New landlord option for Bristol council tenants

More than 1,200 council tenants in north Bristol are to be balloted on whether they want a new company – run by tenants – to manage their estates.

The move is fuelled by anger at what they say are inadequate services. They also claim they do not have an adequate say over how rent money is spent.

"We believe we can do a lot better job for tenants than the council does," says leading campaigner Tony Lewis.

Tenants often complain of botched repair work by the council, inefficient responses to calls and failure to tackle reported problems.

The new company could have a budget of more than £1.5 million a year.

It could be responsible not only for house repairs and maintenance, but also rent collection and control of anti- social behaviour.

The cash would come from the city council and its employees could end up being transferred to the new company, say campaigners.

They say it could in turn make some staff redundant in order to make savings to improve services.

Tenant management organisations (TMOs) were introduced by John Major's government in 1994, but none has ever been set up in Bristol.

As many as four could be launched over the next few years, affecting many of the city's 28,000 council tenants.

The first TMO would be based on the Horfield and Lockleaze areas if tenants give the go-ahead in a poll.

Others could follow in St Paul's and Easton (around 3,000 tenants), in Bedminster (for a similar number) and at Barton Hill, say leaders of the City of Bristol Tenants' Federation.

The drive to set up the Horfield and Lockleaze TMO – which would be known as Spirit Homes – follows dissatisfaction with the council's own services and anger at the demise of area housing committees (AHCs).

On the AHCs tenants used to have a say on how some of their rent money was spent on environmental improvements.

The new TMOs will set up companies led by boards of tenant members, who would regularly seek re-election.

They would be volunteer directors and would steer policy. The work itself would be carried out by employed staff and contractors.

Once the current group's leaders and the council are agreed on which powers are being handed over and the company is officially set up, a poll will be held, probably next January.

If a majority of those who take part back the idea, the TMO will start operating in April 2010.

"At least 260 places in England have already tried TMOs and the vast majority of them have been a success," said Mr Lewis, himself a tenant at Rodbourne Road, Manor Farm, Horfield.

He is secretary of the new group.

Single mother-of-four Cheryl Ann, of Tilling Road, is its chairwoman.

She told the Post: " The standard of the council's work is disgraceful. This is the last chance for tenants.

"I think we will be able to make a huge difference to people's lives. It will benefit the whole community."

A Bristol City Council spokeswoman said: "The council aims to deliver the best possible services within restrictive means. But it is keen to support the greater involvement of tenants in management of their homes at a level that is appropriate and meaningful for tenants and the council.

"Feedback from surveys carried out in 2007/08 show that Bristol City Council is providing a very good service to their tenants.

"The satisfaction of tenants with the overall service provided by the council has increased to 77 per cent – a performance comparable with large metropolitan and London borough authorities.

"Ninety per cent of anti-social behaviour reports are investigated and have an action plan. Nearly 100 per cent of urgent repairs are completed within government time limits, and 88 per cent of council homes are decent as per the decent homes standard.

"However, the level of funding is inadequate, and any TMO will inherit the same restrictions in delivering their service or services. The annual budget will come through the council.

"The legislation and how the transfer of services and employees will take place will be addressed closer to the time that a TMO is agreed.

"Bristol City Council looks forward to working further with tenant groups who progress down this route."