How is the board viewed by its key contacts, eg, regulators, local authorities, tenants' groups, leaseholder groups, contractors and lenders?

‘The G15 group of London’s largest housing associations has hired a team of lobbyists in response to ‘relentless criticism’ from backbench MPs.’

Inside Housing, March 2008

Stock transfer associations and ALMOs go through growing pains with their local authority partners. Some national associations face criticism for ignoring isolated pockets of their stock. But there are also plenty of examples of housing organisations that work well with partners.

In the early years of this century central government tried to stop hostile relationships between housing organisations and maintenance contractors. Sabre-rattling got in the way of value for money and customer care. Unfortunately, some of the partnering deals that emerged offered poorer value than before. So-called open book deals protected contractors’ profits with little in return. The better partnerships do yield results for residents, not just cordiality between partners.

Who are your key partners, eg, regulators, local authorities, tenants' groups, leaseholder groups, contractors and lenders? Are the police, health services, Jobcentre Plus and schools key partners in some areas?

  • What partnerships work well? How do you make that judgement? Is it based on firm numbers, or a warm feeling?
  • What partnerships work less well? Why? What are you doing about it?
  • If you are an LSVT association, did you keep all the promises in the offer document on, eg, home improvements and local management? Did the tenants support any changes to the plan?
  • If you are an ALMO is your Decent Homes programme on track? If not, what is being done to get back on track?
  • Is there a plan to make key partnerships more effective?
  • Are board members acting as ambassadors or assassins with partners, and in the local community?
  • What have you changed in the last year to make relationships with partners improve?
  • What will you do next?

Next: Do deals deliver? »