Depending on the tenure status and how the homes are managed, giving arrangements a legal status can ensure clarity over the co-production of property-related operational matters and help with various aspects of securing long term support and sustainability, for example:
- governance arrangements, including ensuring a right to participation in decision making
- making permanent arrangements regarding current and future affordability of housing
- property management and service charge arrangements
- rules about succession of tenancies
- rules about any personal care and support
Community Land Trusts are bodies established within a legally binding framework with the purpose of creating community-led housing, underpinned by common social, economic and environmental interests which benefit the local community. Profits from any activities are recycled back into the Trust. Local people can become members of the Trust, and share ownership and control over the organisation and its activities.
Case Studies
- Bristol Community Land Trust (opens new window)
- St Ann’s Redevelopment Trust (StART) (opens new window)
St Ann’s Redevelopment Trust (StART) formed a Community Land Trust in 2016 as part of their campaign for community-led housing on a former hospital site.
A TMO is a way that Council tenants can have a role in the management of their homes. A TMO is an independent legal body run by a tenant led board and is paid a management and maintenance allowance to undertake their responsibilities. Some TMOs are now going further than management of housing and are building new homes. More information can be found on the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations website (opens new window).
Case Studies
- Leathermarket Community Benefit Society (opens new window)
Leathermarket Community Benefit Society was set up to enable provision of homes for local people in Southwark.
A platform co-operative (opens new window) is a digital platform that provides a service or product - that is collectively owned and governed by the people who depend on and participate in it.
This innovative use of technology aims to support the co-production of public services. Nesta are piloting the approach with the Equal Care Coop (opens new window) to provide social care services in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire.
A community gateway is an innovative model that empowers tenants and leaseholders to take a central part in decision-making about the homes they live in and the services they use, often through membership schemes. Housing associations that use this model are committed to have significant tenant and leaseholder representation on their boards and encourage all residents to get involved with the organisation to influence services and future priorities.
An example of a community gateway housing association is Phoenix Community Housing in South London. It was the first resident-led housing association in London and its Hazelhurst Court is a HAPPI award-winning development in Lewisham. They are currently developing a nearby intergenerational scheme at Melfield Gardens, a forthcoming Housing LIN case study.