Mansfield District Council has become the first local authority in the country to be awarded Tenant Scrutiny Accreditation.

The award, which is a benchmark for quality in the delivery of housing services, recognises the hard work of Mansfield’s Housing Services Panel and its commitment to working with the Council to improve services for customers.

The Panel is made up of tenants and residents, who challenge, influence and help to shape the way housing services are delivered. They ensure that the Council is hitting its housing targets and monitor services through the use of mystery shoppers.

They have also completed a range of scrutiny exercises, including looking at empty properties, monitoring estate walkabouts and addressing issues arising from Welfare Reform.

Cllr Mick Colley, Portfolio Holder for Tenancy Services and Special Housing Needs said: “This award was fully deserved and reflects the dedication of the Panel. It is a great way to thank our tenants for their commitment and hard work, which is all voluntary.

“We have been working closely with the Panel as part of our ongoing commitment to tenant involvement in the shaping of our housing services. We are very proud to be the first local authority in the country to get this accreditation.”

The accreditation was awarded at a ceremony at the Civic Centre by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, the Chartered Institute of Housing and the benchmarking service Housemark.