Listening to you

Your comments: responses to the consultation with residents

There were 186 responses from the survey in the special edition of Tenants News issued in July.

Q1: Do you think the proposals to create Heart of England Housing Association will benefit residents and local communities?

Yes: 128 = 69%

Don't know 8 = 4%

No 49 = 27%

There is a clear view in favour of the merger. We do however take note that over a quarter expressed concerns. Where these have been supported by specific, valid comments, we will take these into account as issues to be addressed.

Q2: Main priorities

We asked what residents thought the main priorities of the new Association should be:

Building affordable homes = 33%

Services for older people = 31%

Improving existing homes = 23%

Investing in local communities = 13%

The most popular first choice for the priorities for the new organisation was the provision of affordable homes. This was closely followed by services for older people, then improving existing homes and investing in local communities. It is interesting that the first three were also priorities during the transfer from the district council.

Q3 Involvement

We asked whether residents would like to work with us during the merger process. Thirty-eight put their names forward and we will be contacting them to see how they can be involved.

Q4 Do you think it is a good idea for the new Association to have charitable status?

Yes: 155 = 91%

Don't know 2 = 1%

No 13 = 8%

There was overwhelming approval to this proposal. We will provide more information about what the conversion to charitable status means in the coming months.

Next steps

A report about the consultation has been made to the Resident Forum. It supports the approval to the proposal indicated by those residents who responded to the consultation activities.

These results will form part of a submission to our regulator, the Housing Corporation, seeking formal approval to the merger.

Prior to that, a ‘Shadow Board’ for Heart of England Housing Association will be formed. This will include two resident members. Details about this new Board will be included in the Winter edition of Tenants News.