Housing tenants living in Bristol will now be able to carry out their own repairs to their rented home and keep the cash that they save their landlord. Under new Coalition reforms residents living in social housing could earn cash under the Tenant Cashback scheme which is part of a plan that ministers believe will actually save money.
The change in regulations would see social landlords who own thousands of properties all covered by landlord insurance allow their tenants the chance to manage the maintenance budget. This would allow tenants to carry out simple DIY jobs or even call in a local tradesman to do the work, with the tenant free to pocket any saving. The Coalition says social landlords are spending an average of £1,000 on every property they own each year on repairs, which tenants could quite often do themselves. Ministers claim that with a national maintenance and repair bill of £4 billion a year, this change will see a bonus for small businesses such as plumbers, carpenters and painter/decorators.
Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: “Social housing should act as a springboard to help people make better lives for themselves. When residents take pride in their homes it saves their landlords cash, so I think its right that tenants should benefit too. Tenant Cashback will do just that, giving house proud residents control over looking after their own homes. Doing their own DIY or choosing a local handyman to do the work, will allow tenants to pocket any savings they make.
“No tenant will be obliged to take on any jobs and community groups will also be allowed to pool their resources, creating a “Community Cashback” account which will then be used to fund improvements for the benefit of all tenants.”