Take Community Control!

Leeds Tenants Federation is spreading the word about community control. We want residents groups to know about the options for them to take over their homes and communities and run them co-operatively.

We are working with Open Communities on a project to make sure residents groups are aware of the changes to the Right to Manage and the voluntary route for housing association tenants interested in management.

In November 2008 the Federation held a one day conference to showcase examples where residents have taken control and done a better job than their landlords. There were workshops on tenant management, housing co-operatives, and the 'gateway' stock transfer model.  The conference kicked-off a year-long programme of promotion, where Leeds Tenants Federation held local conferences and discussions to ensure that residents are aware of the range of options for the management and ownership of their own homes.

From this page you can get an overview of the options for community control and find out about some inspiring examples. There are three main ways that communities can take over their own housing: through co-operatives, tenant management organisations or through community gateway housing associations. To explore these options you may be able to get financial help from the government in the form of Tenant Empowerment Grant. This helps you employ a consultant and explore the options for community control. Council tenants have a statutory right to manage their own estates. Housing association tenants need to win the agreement of their landlord.

Through the links on the right you can read about Watmos, the innovative tenant-led housing association formed by a network of eight tenant management organisations in Walsall. You can learn about Preston Community Gateway - the first stock transfer to give real power and influence to residents. And you can read about Belle Isle TMO in Leeds - the largest tenant management organisation outside London. We hope these stories will inspire you to think about taking community control!