The role of the agency is to provide independent, professional information and advice to tenants and local authorities interested in extending tenant participation and setting up a tenant management organisation (TMO).

In order to be eligible to receive funding, the agency must have ‘Approved Person’ status and be included on the List of ‘Approved Persons’. Guidance on the Approval of Agencies is given at Approval of agencies.

Guidance for agencies

The agency is responsible for ensuring that it complies with the statutory RTM guidance provided in the following documents:

• The Modular Management Agreement
• The Guide to the RTM gives additional information on the issues to be considered and outlines the steps to be undertaken at each of the above stages of the to Manage process
• Preparing to Manage, including guidelines for assessment of competence of a TMO
• Managing the Money (available from tenantempowerment@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk )
• Good Practice Guide for the Development of Tenant Management Organisations

Funding arrangements: Options Study/Pre-Feasibility Study/Feasibility Study

The funding arrangements for the work undertaken by an agency working with a tenants’ group to carry out an Options or Pre-Feasibility Study and the Feasibility stage of the RTM process are set out in the relevant sections of the Right to Manage Grant Guide.

The Corporation will make grant payments directly to the agency, but the agency is required to work closely with both the tenants’ group and local authority in order to establish their aims and objectives.

Funding arrangements: Development stage

Grant is paid by the Corporation directly to the tenants’ group at the Development stage. RTM grant will provide 75% of the costs involved in an application for Development grant and the local authority will be responsible for providing the remaining 25% of funding. The agency must therefore ensure that the TMO involves the local authority in their work and keeps it fully informed and involved at every stage.

The tenants’ group is responsible for appointing an agency and for paying it for the work carried out. The agency is therefore directly answerable to the tenants’ group for the work. The agency’s main objective is to help to negotiate the Modular Management Agreement between the local authority and the TMO and to ensure that the TMO is registered. This involves liaising and negotiating with the local authority and providing detailed training to the tenants’ group.