For more information, please see our Housing Board page or contact the Resident Engagement and Insight Officer on residentengagement@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or 01543 462621.

The Housing Improvement Panel needs you!

Are you a tenant or leaseholder of Cannock Chase Council?

Would you be interested in helping the Council to improve its Housing Services?

Would you like to learn more about Housing, generally?

And on a personal note, would you like the opportunity to improve your skills? Develop as a person?

If so, why not join our Housing Improvement Panel.

What is the Housing Improvement Panel?

Cannock Chase Council is passionate about its services and the tenants that use them. Our customer-led Housing Improvement Panel (HIP) looks at the way our housing team works and gives you the opportunity to improve the services that you receive. The HIP will take part in service reviews, engage with tenants, leaseholders and staff, support "value for money", scrutinise performance and recommend improvements.

How can I benefit?

Being part of HIP will give you the opportunity to meet new people and build your confidence. You will have the chance to learn and develop useful skills such as interviewing, listening and evaluating, working as part of a team, reaching consensual decisions and report writing.

For more information please contact the Resident Engagement and Insight Officer on 01543 462621 or residentengagement@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

You could join a Tenants and Residents Association if there is one in your area.  If not, you may consider starting a new one if your neighbours are interested too.

Tenants' and Residents' Associations are local groups organised and managed by a committee of local volunteers. Tenants' and Residents' Associations are recognized by the Council. They play an important role in building local communities, contributing to the making of policy and the delivery of services to tenants of the Cannock Chase District.

For more information please contact the Resident Engagement and Insight Officer on 01543 462621 or residentengagement@cannockchasedc.gov.uk

Do you want to comment on publications that go out to tenants and leaseholders?

We are inviting tenants to express an interest in joining a new virtual group, where tenants and leaseholders can comment on housing policies, strategies, documents and other publications produced by Housing Services.   This will be carried out ‘virtually’ over email correspondence. 

Virtual panel members will play an important role in providing the housing service with valuable comments and insights that can shape policy that may affect tenants and leaseholders, and help improve publications that fellow tenants and leaseholders would receive.

If you would be interested in becoming a member of the ‘Virtual’ group please let us know. Email: residentengagement@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or telephone the Resident Engagement and Insight Officer on 01543 462621 to express an interest.

Do you have a bright idea that could help the Housing Service in Cannock Chase?

Cannock Chase Council is offering £25 to tenants who come up with useful suggestions that are put into practice for improving the service, saving money or simply making things easier.

Please contact the Resident Engagement and Insight Officer by email: residentengement@cannockchasedc.gov.uk or telephone 01543 462621

Right to Manage

Local authority residents have a statutory Right to Manage. By forming a Tenant Management Organisation, and following Right to Manage Regulations, such residents can take over responsibility for managing housing services from their landlord.

The key stages in the Right to Manage process are as follows:

• the local authority residents explore options for managing services, engage residents and decide that tenant management is the right option for them (although not part of the statutory Right to Manage process this stage is recommended)
• a vote is held which authorises the Tenant Management Organisation to serve a Right to Manage proposal notice on the local authority;
• the Tenant Management Organisation and local authority develop proposals for the services to be managed and budgets to be transferred, drawing on the authority’s support;
• the competence of the Tenant Management Organisation is assessed by an independent approved assessor;
• providing the group is deemed competent, affected residents are balloted to confirm community support, ahead of detailed work by the Tenant Management Organisation and local authority to finalise arrangements for transfer;
• an agreement is prepared and signed transferring management responsibility to the Tenant Management Organisation.

Further information can be found on the Government website by visiting Right to Manage Guidance.

Right to Transfer

Right to Transfer Regulations require that local authorities co-operate with a group of its residents who wish to explore the benefits of a change of landlord. Where a transfer is shown to be the preferred and option and is viable, the Right to Transfer Regulations compel the local authority to commence the process of transferring ownership of those homes to a private registered provider of social housing.

Any such transfer proposal is subject to existing legislation on stock transfers meaning that the transfer can only go ahead if a majority of secure and introductory tenants of the homes in question vote in favour in a ballot organised by the local authority and the Secretary of State has granted consent.

The Right to Transfer Regulations also allow the local authority to, at any time, request the Secretary of State to halt the proposal if it would have a significant detrimental effect on the local authority’s ability to deliver its housing services or regeneration within the local area.

Statutory Guidance is available by visiting The Housing (Right To Transfer from A Local Authority Landlord) (England) Regulations 2013.