Introduction
Bromford Group is an organization deeply committed to offer a variety of quality housing services that meet the needs of our clients. Our work always revolves around the aspect that we need to be dynamic and sensitive to consumer needs and as well as keep at par with the emerging trends and issues. We have engaged the services of revered professional to ensure we give the best. Over the past decade, we have improved steadily, a sure sign of our solid mastery of the social housing provision services. We hope to grow and become the leading housing organization globally.
Housing organizations
A tenancy is an agreement between a tenant and a registered landlord, like Bromford Group, where the tenant gives money in return of a place to live. The types of tenancy options Bromford Group offers are influenced by whether you are new or not, your discipline and the type of property one wants to occupy. We are very keen on offering the best tenancy options to our clients in a bid to position ourselves as a premier housing organization. Here are the options we offer.
Starter Tenancy
This is the kind which is given to a new housing association tenant who has signed up for leasing or renting a house. It normally lasts for twelve months. It is meant to ascertain how responsible a tenant is before we offer him/her the assured tenancy option which will be explained later in the report. This tenancy agreement can be terminated abruptly if the tenant fails to obey the set conditions of staying in the property.
The starter tenant must pay up the rent on time; keep the property in good condition and refrain from disturbing neighbours. He /she should also not use the property is transacting illegal businesses like drug storage and allow any workman sent to do maintenance to carry out his job freely. In the case there is the failure to for a tenant to observe this set regulation or rule, subsequently, the tenant will be evicted from the premises they fore resided. Other companies like Ridgeways Properties have the same tenancy option on their regulations and guidelines too for managing their tenants.
Assured tenancies
One ascends to assured tenancy position after successfully completing the starter tenancy period. It means the tenant was responsible and Bromford Group can accept him/her as their assured tenant. One has stronger rights when he is an assured tenant. One can retain his/her rented property for the rest of his life so long as he/she adheres to the tenancy rules all through. Some companies have a fixed period assured tenancy of five or ten years like Park Traders.
Assured tenants have the right to ask for repairs and acquire the home after some time, normally referred to as the ‘Right to Acquire’. Transfer of tenancy to another person is possible as long as you get the permission of the landlord and this usually follows a series of contract signings that approve of the agreement with consent to the landlords and new tenants approval. This is also means that the long-term trust between the landlord and tenant contributes to the ultimate successional contracts between the two parties.
Assured short hold tenancy
In the case where one lives in supported housing, we offer assured short hold tenancy. This tenancy has fewer rights in comparison with assured tenancy. For instance, if we see it fit to evict you, we may offer you a two-month notice after the first six months for you to seek accommodation elsewhere.
Demoted tenancies
Bromford Group demotes errant tenants. This is a normal tenancy option among our peers. The implication is that you lose some rights for a given duration and you risk immediate eviction if you carry on with the behaviour. This is why our very first option, starter tenancy, is very critical for us in knowing who exactly we are dealing with. Demoted tenants will only become assured tenant again if they do not break the very rules that caused their demotion over a one year period.
Housing services
We offer a number of services which include motivating our tenants in their providential work engagements manage their complaints and teach them on safe and cheaper cooking methods. We also do carry out repairs and maintenance every three months and when a tenant requests of one. It has also been our norm to treat our tenants to a party at the end of each year to celebrate with them.
Housing related services by non housing organizations
These are the services that ensure a sustained and developed capacity of a tenant to freely live in our property. We encourage leisure activities among our tenants in association with Rock Leisure Homes, a leisure organization. A number of our tenants have subscribed with them to access leisure opportunities all year long. Gefest Counsellors have also been working with us in counselling our clients who are have counselling cases as well as teaching them on how to keep their families together and stronger. MobiMarkets, a retail sales company has made it easier for our clients to get most of their household shopping items delivered at their doorstep.
Landlords should introduce an option that caters for a long-term rent payment programme. This will reduce problems of rent payment. An annuity investment option can be introduced to cater for the rent for the time specified.
Partnership working
Bromford Group has partnered with the local authority, Aylesbury Vale District Council, in ensuring that the security of the residents is well catered for. In our partnership with them, we have also involved the flexibility in rate payment and issuance of licenses to authorize our businesses each year. In our partnership, the objectives are clear and the specific purpose of entering into the partnership with them is explicit – offering us security services. In Nuffield Partnership Assessment tool (2003) link, partnerships should be sealed by total commitment.
We have employed all efforts to fulfil our side of the commitment. Our arrangements have been made robust by the one on one communication with the seniors to fast track conflict resolution and mediation whenever it arises. Mutual and good communication with all parties involved in the agreements should be stable and beneficial. Such kind of a partnership approach will not be marred by many challenges unless they are of technical nature or influenced by a third force. The benefits from this partnership are indeed the solid ground from where our service delivery has thrived over the last decade.
When entering into partnership agreements, a lot of care must be observed to avoid getting into a wrong partnership. The moment one is in a partnership that he least understands that he/she will eventually lose. It proves wise to scrutinize the documents of the partnership for clarity.
Resident Involvement
According to the Involvement Policy (2004), resident involvement has a wide spectrum of activities within it, from communication, consultation and engaging the residents in the management of the properties. Our policy approach has been to engage our customers and work towards meeting their most intimate needs. Previously, we encountered many challenges that could have solved if we had engaged residents constructively. Over the last decade, we have experienced changes arising from the policy adopted. We strive to see that resident involvement is embedded within our activities.
The Localism Act 2011 gave power to the local authorities and has been very helpful. It has given power to residents to choose where they want to live. The same Act has made it possible for the locals to determine where new development in infrastructure should be erected. The duty to cooperate has strengthened resident engagement with the authorities and amongst themselves. For landlords, it has made it possible for them to influence development locally through the levies they pay to the local authority.
Tenancy scrutiny has encouraged examination of performance of resident involvement activities and tenancy reporting. The scrutiny is based on indications of dissatisfaction from the tenants regarding the services they receive. The primary aim of scrutiny is to affect positive improvement of service provision. A two way relationship is encouraged in order to obtain feedback on issues of performance and other information needed. The process, however, is tedious and consuming.
Going by LSACs theory, challenges can be resolved regarding the collaborative and community partnerships fostered. Family ties are progressively strengthened over time. The changes occur gradually. To avoid a space between the tenants, disengagement theory asserts that residents should be occupied by some common activity that fills the gap and makes one feel close to the society. In order to achieve best, the theory of practice encourages the doing of the best always while engaging residents.
Resident involvement goes a long way to give them value for their money as well as improving the capacity of the community though the gains are less obvious over a short period of time. Mostly, the goodies come in the long term. The fact that services will be tailored to consumer specifications and needs will create more satisfaction. The contact with many people will improve one socially and even bring to contact people who live outside the homes.
While resident involvement regards to how landlords incorporate the efforts of the tenants in the management of the properties and achievement of quality services, resident engagement is slightly different. Engagement is more of attracting the tenant to be occupied by some activity, majorly beneficial or one that contributes to his/her well-being. Consultation in this context will mean seeking guidance and ideas from tenants over an issue that affects them while scrutiny is the critical observation of the affairs of the tenants to see their satisfaction, progress or even the improvement of housing conditions.
Bromford Group does not intend to fix somebody into anything contrary to the required regulations. We are therefore very steadfast in attaining the set requirements in the course of our resident involvement activities. On the same note, we always encourage residents to observe their part of requirement to make the interactions smooth and beneficial.
In resident involvement, more of capacity building, brainstorming and self-correction platforms should be encouraged. If residents can solve most of their problems by themselves, it can be better. Landlords should also refrain from engaging residents in egocentric activities. With time, it kills the morale.
Impact of Policy and Regulation
The basic intent of regulation is to ensure the interests of tenants are not suppressed. The assessment on regulations and standards is therefore a key role in keeping social landlords in check together with the manner in which they offer their services. Through it, landlords are held accountable of the improvement in provision of social housing.
The regulations are always tenant based. The risk based approach focuses on risks and key aspects of performance of the housing. At different levels, housing services providers are engaged depending on the risk and performance profile to ascertain the level of performance and assured improvement. In the regulatory framework, tenants’ opinions are very critical. Landlords too, have a performance indicator test as a central part of the whole regulation framework.
Regulators do publish the regulation information to encourage better comparison, performance management, public accountability and an encouraged improvement in provision. They also blueprint on the emerging innovation and practice trends across the world. Fairness is really looked into to make sure the information thereof is valid and strategic. Landlord stock size, number of tenancies, turnover, level of private finance it is servicing and the degree of the dependence of the local community on the landlord is also looked into.
A number of changes to regulation have been proposed owing to the fact that changes are ensuing and providers becoming extremely diverse. This has been done to ensure the regulatory frameworks still serve their intended purpose and housing provision is protected from complexity and risk. Plans have been laid to protect social housing units to curb the risks that are increasingly becoming prevalent. This is indeed necessary in protecting tenants and public investment but at the very same time, assisting the industry to place itself well in order to attract private finance at favourable rates.
Standard frameworks like the Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) are very good in assessing housing provision services performance. This framework is a clear and consistent, a quality that makes it possible for landlords to even regulate themselves. The consistency gives room to flexibility and ease of interpretation. The framework itself is easily comprehended since it captures the need to involve users in the process of assessment. It can be used for continuous assessment too. But on the same vein, the framework is very involving and any mistake along the way can result in wrong results at the end. A lot of keenness and care should be observes while using it.
Performance Based Regulation Framework is yet another good framework of knowing the performance of housing organizations. It encompasses many standards which include performance standard, test or calculation standard and system specification standard. This very framework also exhibits the ability to identify the impact of a certain improvement that may have been achieved before the assessment was carried out. On the contrary, it does not exploit all means and methods that can be used to identify the strength of Housing Corporation. The pre-set standards it uses are the only means it has.
Bromford Group has responded to the rising need for affordable housing by building more estates with housing units that can accommodate many people at a cheaper pay. We have also ensured their affordability. The local government has made it easier for us to engage our residents without infringing on their rights or depriving them of their essential time and freedom. The challenges of welfare have also been handled professionally to ensure our clients are happy with our services. Timely response to complaints has also been improved with a direct line provided to the tenants. Bromford Group has also worked to make it possible for the availability of non-housing related services which still play a key role in making our tenants comfortable and live independently.
Every policy introduced should be made aware to every party. This should be given special attention to avoid inconveniences of ignorance. An informed tenant happens to be a good tenant in most cases. Information should be accessed freely without any intimidation.
Conclusion
Provision of housing services is a key industry since people must be accommodated well to work well. Every aspect that affects such an industry should be addressed with a lot of attention to avoid undesirable eventualities like losing clients and esteemed customers. The authorities that regulate our business should also observe professionalism and credibility as they carry out their assessment. Bromford Group will forever strive to give you a home, a real home, and one that an individual or folks would reside it for a lifetime while being guaranteed quality service and highly esteemed comfort.
Recommendation
The recommended approach that I would endorse for the company is to uplift and preserve a high standard of quality service delivery and customers support which goes a long way in ensuring the keeping of the client base for the company. Additionally, the observance and the maintenance of a free and non-exploiting organization should be put into practice with the highest form of professionalism. The access to vital data and information should be guaranteed at particular times.
References
Nuffield Partnership assessment Tool (2003) link
Plummer J. (2013) Focusing on Partnerships, London, Earthscan Publications
Hughes D. Lowe S. (2007) Private Rented Housing Market, Hampshire, Ashgate publishing Limited
Involvement Policy (2004) Ref.6
Payne G. K., Majale M. (2004) The Urban Housing Manual: Making Regulatory Frameworks Work, London, Earthscan Publications.
Shaw I, Lampart S. (1998) Social care and Housing, London, Earthscan Publications.
Frolik A L. (2008) Residence options for older and disabled clients, New York, Pearl Printing.
Williams D.W. (2002) Landlord and Tenant Casebook, Manchester, Brook Publications.
Cooper C. (1998) Resident Involvement and Community Action, Michigan, Chartered Institute of Housing.
Garner S. (2010) A practical Approach to Landlord and Tenant, New York, OUP
