Tenant management organisation
A tenant management organisation (TMO) is a group or body of council tenants who collectively manage their homes. TMO's were introduced by the Housing (Right to Manage) Regulations in 1994.
TMO's are independent legal bodies which can enter into a formal contract with the council, known as the management agreement. The management agreement outlines the services the TMO has taken responsibility for as well as those that remain under the remit of the council.
The size and form of a TMO can vary. Some TMOs may be responsible for only a small number of homes, while others may manage large estates of several thousand. They can either operate as a co-operative body or as a not-for-profit company. Smaller TMOs may be formed of volunteers, but larger TMOs can employ staff, such as housing managers, caretakers, repair workers, and so on.
Typically, a management committee will be elected to run the TMO. The TMO is able to choose the degree of responsibility they wish to assume from the council and the types of services to be managed by them may vary with local circumstances. Examples of services managed by TMOs include:
- Day-to-day repairs.
- Allocations and lettings.
- Tenancy management.
- Cleaning and caretaking.
- Maintenance of grounds and common areas.
- Rent collection and rent recovery.
Community groups who are interested in setting up a TMO can seek support from ‘guide TMOs’, and look at the options for taking over management services. As long as council tenants and/or leaseholders have been independently assessed as being competent to manage the proposed services, they will have the right to set up a TMO. A secret ballot is held among tenants on whether or not they agree to a TMO being set up.
The advantages of TMOs are that they can often manage housing more effectively than a landlord, being ‘on the ground’ with the relevant local knowledge to be able to act quickly and effectively. Similarly, TMOs may work better with socially excluded communities, and can play an important role in the regeneration of a neighbourhood.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Cohousing.
- Common area.
- Community-led housing.
- Community right to bid.
- Community right to build.
- Community right to challenge.
- Community right to reclaim land.
- Community shares.
- Housing cooperative.
- Landlord and Tenant Act.
- Local resident.
- Localism act.
- Neighbourhood planning.
- Real Estate Investment Trusts.
- Shared ownership.
- Social housing.
- Tenant.
Featured articles and news
Restoring Broadbent’s Bath House
A new gallery for the University of Huddersfield.
Corruption in the construction industry.
What will it take to stop it ?
To celebrate world bee day 2022 !
Just one month until the changes to part L come into effect.
Not forgetting part F and the new part overheating part O.
Heat Pump demand rises by one quarter.
As energy prices jump up in cost.
With people in the UK from Ukraine.
Industry leader Steve Murray takes on role.
An abundant and versatile building material.
How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
600,000 heat pump installations targeted per year by 2028.
Cost planning, control and related articles on DB.
Helping prevent those unwanted outcomes.
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?
Share your knowledge with the industry.
Create an account and write the first of many articles.
The green jobs delivery group.
CIAT commentary after the first meeting.
Liverpool's world heritage site status
Who is to blame?
Research recommends focussing on portfolio success rather than project success.
ICE and BSI launch revised PAS 128 standard.
The revised standard for mapping underground utilities.