New TSA chief executive calls for one RSL regulator by 2010

3 Jul 08
All social landlords should come under a single regulatory system by spring 2010 at the latest, according to the newly appointed head of the Tenant Services Authority.

04 July 2008

All social landlords should come under a single regulatory system by spring 2010 at the latest, according to the newly appointed head of the Tenant Services Authority.

Peter Marsh, whose appointment as the TSA's first chief executive was announced on June 27, told Public Finance it would be 'fantastic' if councils, including arm's-length management organisations, were included in the new regulatory regime by late 2009. If necessary, however, he was happy to wait until the following year.

The TSA will take over social housing responsibilities from the Housing Corporation, which is merging with English Partnerships into the Homes and Communities Agency.

Initially the authority will cover only housing associations, probably from April 2009, using the corporation's existing powers. The government has confirmed it will introduce further legislation later this year to extend the TSA to local authorities, but no firm date has been set.

Marsh has worked at the corporation for four years and spent the past 12 months as its deputy chief executive. He has been a strong champion of the new regulator and told last month's Chartered Institute of Housing conference that it would have to go further than the corporation in challenging mediocrity and complacency.

'It's going to mean a fundamental shift in the way that the regulator operates,' he said this week. 'We need to go back to square one and ask what outcomes we're trying to achieve for tenants in social housing.'

About half of the corporation's 500 staff will shift to the TSA, where they will make up the vast majority of employees. Remaining corporation staff will be offered the opportunity to work at the Homes and Communities Agency, which will employ 800 people, most coming from English Partnerships.

The government has also confirmed that Robert Napier, EP's chair, is to be the first chair of the Homes and Communities Agency.

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