Thematic study of openness and access to information provided by local authority landlords and RSLs on behalf of Communities Scotland

ERS have been commissioned by Communities Scotland to carry out a thematic study that aims to provide a national assessment of landlords’ openness and accessibility to their tenants, other service users and stakeholders.

This study is looking at the range of information that both local authority landlords and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) provide about their governance and performance. It will recognise the different frameworks within which registered social landlords and local authority landlords operate. However, as RSLs and local authority landlords provide services of a similar nature, it is envisaged that there will be useful lessons and examples of positive practice relevant for both kinds of organisation.

The study will include:

• A survey of landlords to find out what kinds of information they currently provide;

• Consultation with tenants, and service users and organisations representing diverse groups, to find out more about their information needs;

• Case studies/thematic inspections of selected landlords.

The study will reflect both landlords’ and service users’ perspectives, identify the barriers, constraints and costs of providing information and offer some practical solutions and recommendations.

ERS Contact: vpagan@ers.org.uk