'AWICS' provides Independent Tenants' Advice from an objective viewpoint for housing stock options appraisals, housing stock transfer and other projects.
AWICS is a member of the Agencies and Trainers for Involved Communities (ATIC) scheme and is a consultancy registered with the Nation Federation of Tenant Management Organisations (NFTMO). Additionally AWICS is an approved Lead Advisor with the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).
Our most recent project for Independent Tenants' Advice was at Fenland District Council where we advised tenants through a housing stock options appraisal and a successful housing stock transfer. For more information please see below.
It is an Independent Tenants Advisor’s responsibility to provide independent and impartial advice to tenants on stock option appraisals, stock transfers and other matters. They ensure that tenants get access to all the information they require and are able to make informed decisions about the future of their homes.
Independent Tenants’ Advisors also work to ensure that tenants are well informed of what is going. They check that the information presented to tenants is accurate, complete, clear and understandable. They also clarify any queries tenants may have.
Independent Tenants’ Advisors typically advise tenants through newsletters, meetings, freephone helplines, websites and emails.
AWICS are currently providing Independent Tenants Advice to residents in Havering where the Council is now asking tenants and leaseholders whether Homes in Havering should continue to manage and maintain council homes or whether the Council itself should be responsible. To find out more, follow the link below:
AWICS are currently providing Independent Tenants Advice to tenants in Lambeth where two housing stock transfer proposals are under consideration: One by the Lambeth Alliance of Tenant Management Organisations (LATMOS) and the other by the Wellington Mills Tenant Management Organisation. To find out more, follow the links below:
Fenland District Council led by tenants have undertaken a rigorous Stock Options Appraisal (called Options Fenland) which was submitted and signed off by the Community Housing Task Force (part of the government) before the 31st July 2005 deadline.
The recommendation following the appraisal was to commence a proposal to transfer as it was the only ownership and management option that could meet the aspirational standard set by the tenants (called the Fenland Standard).
Prior to making this recommendation an extensive pool of opinion was undertaken in May 2005 on the viewpoint of the tenant led working group that transfer best meets tenants' needs for the future. Analysis of the results showed that of the 27% who responded 51.8 percent were in favour of transfer.
During the Options Appraisal process the 'Options Fenland Working Group' published reports which can be downloaded from here: Options Apprasial Final Report
The Council also published a number of reports which can be downloaded from the: Fenland District Council Website
As the ITA for Fenland we also produced a final report detailing our findings from our involvement and a copy of this report can be downloaded from here: Final Report of the ITA
You can find more information on our involment with the fenland stock transfer process as their Indepentent Tenant Advisor.
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