05 February 2008
Housing Minister Presents Latest TMO Kite Mark Awards

Three more Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs) have been awarded the TMO Good Governance Kite Mark in a scheme to promote good practice amongst the country’s tenant controlled housing organisations.

The awards were presented by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Iain Wright MP in a ceremony at Westminster on Monday. Haddonhall Residents TMO, Burrowes Street TMO and Friday Hill TMO had all been through a process of self-assessment, action planning and external inspection before being awarded the Kite Mark by the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations (NFTMO).

The Kite Mark scheme was launched last year and aims to help TMOs identify and deal with areas of weakness as well as recognising and celebrating good practice in the TMO sector.

NFTMO Deputy Chair Roy Read says that the Kite Mark scheme has been designed to fit the special characteristics of TMOs. “Most TMOs are small organisations relying on voluntary effort alongside a few paid staff. The Kite Mark scheme aims to apply proper standards of governance but not to impose too much bureaucracy or cost. We are in the business of encouraging TMOs to take governance seriously because where TMOs do occasionally fail it is usually because basic rules of good governance have not been followed.”

In presenting the awards Iain Wright said:

 “Giving tenants opportunities to have a greater role in running their homes and neighbourhoods is a priority for government and I am pleased to see that Tenant Management Organisations are going from strength to strength with the support of the National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations.  The Good Governance Kite Mark Awards are an important way of promoting and encouraging good practice in the sector and I’m sure that Haddonhall, Burrowes Street and Friday Hill will inspire other Tenant Management Organisations to aim for the highest standards.”

The NFTMO is inviting all TMOs to get involved in the Kite Mark scheme. TMOs and their landlords can find out more by visiting the Resouces area of this website.