Press Release

TSA launches diversity plan

Date: 12 January 2010      Ref: TSA 02/10
 
The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) will today set out how it plans to promote equality and good relations for social housing landlords and tenants in England with the launch of its first ever Single equalities scheme and supporting action plan.

The consultation document sets out the TSA’s approach to promoting equality for the next three years and an action plan on how it will deliver on these objectives. It includes how the TSA will work with tenants, providers and other stakeholders to ensure that the needs of different tenants across the six diversity groups of ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, gender, and religion/belief are identified and taken into account.  The scheme and action plan also set out what the TSA intends to do in order to meet its duties under existing and proposed equality legislation.

Phil Morgan, Executive Director Tenant Services said, “Equality in housing and related services are of paramount importance for the TSA not only as the regulator but also as an employer. For tenants, local authority and housing association landlords, and other stakeholders who have an interest in equality issues, this consultation is an opportunity to influence how we develop our Single equalities scheme and action plan. The views we get back will inform how we will work effectively with the housing sector to promote equality and diversity.”

Everyone with an interest in social housing is invited to comment on the consultation document.  The deadline for comments is 31 March 2010.

Ends.

For media enquiries, contact the press office on 020 7393 2094/2118/2115.

Notes to editors:

1) As a public body the TSA is required to set out how it intends to comply with the current equality legislation.

2) The TSA is consulting with social housing tenants across five million households and their landlords, as well as stakeholders, to develop new standards to improve services for tenants. The statutory consultation, which begun on 12 November 2009, will close on 5 February.

3) The TSA is consulting with social housing tenants across five million households and their landlords to develop new standards to improve services for tenants.
4) Initially the TSA will operate under the legal powers of the Housing Corporation while it consults on the powers set out in the 2008 Housing and Regeneration Act.