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
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing tool inc. physical environment, indoor facilities, functionality and accessibility.