HOUSING association tenants in south Oxfordshire are holding their landlord to account and will soon be teaching others how to do so.

Soha Housing, which has its headquarters in Station Road, Didcot, looks after about 5,600 homes in the area.

Its tenants are now involved in a £1.2m national training programme led by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service. Backed by the Government’s Training and Support Fund, the programme aims to give tenants the advice they need to check and improve their landlord’s decision-making and services.

One part of the funding is being used to set up tenant-led training and advice.

Carole Burchett, from Sonning Common, near Henley, a member of Soha’s Tenant Scrutiny Group, said, “We’re a bit like Soha’s own select committee.

“We want to know why and how decisions about our homes are made.

“I’m really excited that we’ll be helping other tenants do the same.”

Richard Peacock, chief executive of Soha, said: “Tenants pay their rent to us and we are accountable to them.

“I really value the constructive, well informed challenge that our involved tenants give to us.”

  • For further information visit tpas.org.uk.