Top Marks For Local Housing Association

There were smiles all round this week for staff and residents at Magna West Somerset Housing Association (MWS), when they were presented with an award for the way it involves tenants in its business.

Alison Cross-Jones, director of the independent Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS), said MWS was the ‘elitest of the elite’ after achieving the highest ever score in its national landlord accreditation scheme. The Williton-based association, which has 2,200 homes across Somerset and Devon, gained the top score.

TPAS praised MWS for its high level of customer awareness and involvement in a scheme that involves major social landlords across the country. Barbara Mullan, community services manager at MWS, accepted the kitemark award – which lasts for three years - at a ceremony at Ingram’s Meadow in Watchet.

She paid tribute to the hard work of residents and her colleagues and tenant involvement and research co-ordinator Clive Barclay in particular. She said: “We always felt we were doing the right thing and this accreditation proves that. Striving towards an excellent, resident-focused service goes right across all MWS departments. We are very proud of the result.”

MWS gives residents the opportunity to be involved in a number of ways, including service review and focus groups, an active and influential tenants’ panel, satisfaction surveys on a variety of subjects, neighbourhood inspections, mystery shopping, and a new-build design panel.

Norma Stevens, chair of the MWS Tenants’ Panel, said: “I want to thank Magna for all their work with the tenants and listening to us.”

Pats on backs all round!