The Tenant Services Authority is to running costs by about 10% next year (2010-11), while doubling its remit when it takes on responsibility for regulating local authorities.
TSA will reduce its budget to £35m, down from £38.5m this year. Within its reduced budget, the TSA will be funding the £1.8m programme to inspect housing associations – costs that the Audit Commission met in the past.It also regulates housing associations and from 1 April, the TSA will also become responsible for regulating local authorities and arm’s-length management organisations who combined own two million homes.
Chairman, Anthony Mayer said: “The next few years are going to be tight financially across central and local government, and there’s a renewed and welcome focus on the need to control public spending and deliver value for taxpayers’ money. We have already made clear our plans to reduce red tape in the social housing sector. We will deploy our people where they can make the biggest difference. For 2010-11 we will focus our work on supporting those organisations with the greatest performance challenges – working with landlords to deliver a fair deal for their tenants.We are leading by example by demonstrating value for money in the social housing sector for the taxpayer and Government.”
The TSA Board also agreed to the organisation publishing all transactions of more than £1000 on the TSA’s website as part of its drive for transparency and accountability.