TENANTS and staff of Mid Devon District Council's housing service are getting ready for the new regulatory framework set out by the Tenant Services Authority.

The Authority is already responsible for regulating housing associations and housing co-operatives. From spring 2010, the TSA will also be able to set standards for council tenants and tenants of "arm's-length management organisations" (ALMOs).

It is the responsibility of the TSA to ensure that landlords deliver high-quality services to tenants and that landlord organisations are run properly. Where there are shortcomings, the TSA will step in and take action to improve things.

The TSA want tenants to play a much bigger role in monitoring their landlord's performance. This will mean more opportunities for greater tenant involvement and empowerment.

Tenants will work together with the housing service to enable them to set local and national priorities and standards that matters to tenants.

In the near future, a special group of interested tenants will be set up to scrutinise the housing service to make sure it is doing what it says it will do on its service standards.