(1)The Secretary of State may—
(a)establish a body with the functions specified in subsections (2) to (5);
(b)give financial or other assistance to any person for the purpose of establishing a body with those functions;
(c)give financial or other assistance to any body appearing to the Secretary of State to have those functions for the purpose of the carrying out by the body of any or all of those functions.
(2)The function in this subsection is that of representing, or facilitating the representation of, the views and interests of—
(a)tenants of social housing in England, or
(b)tenants of social housing and other residential property in England.
(3)The function in this subsection is that of conducting or commissioning research into issues affecting—
(a)tenants of social housing in England, or
(b)tenants of social housing and other residential property in England.
(4)The function in this subsection is that of promoting the representation by other bodies of—
(a)tenants of social housing in England or any part of England, or
(b)tenants of social housing and other residential property in England or any part of England.
(5)It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) to (c) that a body may also have other functions.
(6)Assistance under this section may be given in such form (including financial assistance by way of grant, loan or guarantee) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(7)Assistance under this section may be given on such terms as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(8)The terms on which assistance under this section may be given include, in particular, provision as to the circumstances in which it must be repaid or otherwise made good to the Secretary of State and the manner in which that must be done.
(9)A person or body to whom assistance is given under this section must comply with any terms on which it is given.
(10)In this section—
“social housing” has the meaning given by section 68 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17);
“tenant”, in relation to social housing, has the meaning given by section 275 of that Act.
(1)The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17) is amended as follows.
(2)After section 278 insert—
(1)The Secretary of State may for the purposes of the following provisions of this Part nominate a body appearing to the Secretary of State to represent the interests of tenants of social housing in England—
(a)section 112(4);
(b)section 174(5);
(c)section 196(1);
(d)section 197(4);
(e)section 216.
(2)The Secretary of State must notify the regulator of any nomination (or withdrawal of any nomination) under this section.”
(3)In each of sections 112(4) (consultation about criteria for registration of providers of social housing) and 174(5) (consultation about disposal of dwellings by registered providers of social housing)—
(a)after paragraph (b) (and before the “and” following that paragraph) insert—
“(ba)any body for the time being nominated under section 278A,”;
(b)in paragraph (c), after “one or more” insert “ other ”.
(4)In section 196(1) (consultation about standards etc for registered providers of social housing)—
(a)after paragraph (b) insert—
“(ba)any body for the time being nominated under section 278A,”;
(b)in paragraph (c), after “one or more” insert “ other ”.
(5)In section 197(4) (consultation about directions relating to standards)—
(a)after paragraph (d) insert—
“(da)any body for the time being nominated under section 278A,”;
(b)in paragraph (e), after “one or more” insert “ other ”.
(6)In section 216 (consultation about guidance to registered providers of social housing)—
(a)after paragraph (a) insert—
“(aa)any body for the time being nominated under section 278A,”;
(b)in paragraph (b), after “one or more” insert “ other ”.