Independent Tenant Advice

'AWICS' provides Independent Tenants' Advice from an objective viewpoint for housing stock options appraisals, housing stock transfer and other projects.

Purpose of an Independent Tenants’ Advisor

It is an Independent Tenants Advisor’s responsibility to provide independent and impartial advice to tenants on stock option appraisals, stock transfers and other matters. They ensure that tenants get access to all the information they require and are able to make informed decisions about the future of their homes.

Independent Tenants’ Advisors also work to ensure that tenants are well informed of what is going. They check that the information presented to tenants is accurate, complete, clear and understandable. They also clarify any queries tenants may have.

Independent Tenants’ Advisors typically advise tenants through newsletters, meetings, freephone helplines, websites and emails.

Tenant Control

If your tenant group is interested in taking control of your homes ‘AWICS’ can help. Tenant control can take many forms but whether you want to look at all your options or take a particular route there could be government funding available called Tenant Empowerment Grant. We could provide you with advice, support and training in carrying out an options appraisal, establishing a tenant management organisation, developing a tenant management organisation or transferring ownership of your homes to a community based housing association.

Recent ITA Work for Havering Residents

AWICS recently provided Independent Tenants Advice to residents in Havering where the Council was asking tenants and leaseholders whether Homes in Havering should continue to manage and maintain council homes or whether the Council itself should be responsible. To find out more, including the results follow the link below:

• Havering Indepentent Resident Advice From AWICS

Recent ITA Work for Lambeth Residents

AWICS recently provided Independent Tenants Advice to tenants in Lambeth where two housing stock transfer proposals were under consideration: One by the Lambeth Alliance of Tenant Management Organisations (LATMOS) and the other by the Wellington Mills Tenant Management Organisation. To find out more, follow the link below:

• Lambeth Alliance of Tenant Management Organisations
  

Recent ITA Work For Fenland District Council

Fenland District Council led by tenants have undertook a rigorous Stock Options Appraisal (called Options Fenland) which was submitted and signed off by the Community Housing Task Force (part of the government) before the 31^st July 2005 deadline.

The recommendation following the appraisal was to commence a proposal to transfer as it was the only ownership and management option that could meet the aspirational standard set by the tenants (called the Fenland Standard).

Prior to making this recommendation an extensive pool of opinion was undertaken in May 2005 on the viewpoint of the tenant led working group that transfer best meets tenants' needs for the future. Analysis of the results showed that of the 27% who responded 51.8 percent were in favour of transfer.

During the Options Appraisal process the 'Options Fenland Working Group' published reports which can be downloaded from here: Options Apprasial Final Report

As the ITA for Fenland we also produced a final report detailing our findings from our involvement and a copy of this report can be downloaded from here: Final Report of the ITA.

To read a summary of the Fenland ITA work undertaken by AWICS click here.