Residents' Associations and Resident Compacts

Read about the work of Wiltshire Close Residents' Association, just one of the borough's residents' associations (taken from Housing Matters, Winter 2018).

A resident compact is a group of residents (living in/on the same estate/locality) who are recognised by the Housing Management department. They are less formal than residents' associations but still provide access to the most important benefits. 

Resident compacts are set up by the Council’s Housing Management Community Investment Team. They allows residents from properties too small in number to become a residents' association, the opportunity to come together as and when they need to bring issues to the attention of the Council, take part in consultations affecting their homes and bid for improvement funding. This provides flexibility in how they participate and the level of commitment relevant to them and the estate or block they represent.

A resident compact:

  • is a partnership approach set up with the objective of creating a sense of community and a working relationship between groups of residents and the Council
  • ensures information and consultation, where required, is provided to all residents within the represented area 
  • allows compact representatives to play an active role in monitoring the quality of services provided by the Council, such as estate walkabouts with its officers 
  • encourages residents to get involved in bringing improvements to the estate 
  • enables residents to have a say in the way the housing services are delivered both at local and borough wide level, for example expressing views on the Council’s cleaning, communal repairs and other services where applicable 
  • promotes and encourages a standard of service, respect and courtesy expected from compact representatives and Council officers through the Residents’ Compact Code of Conduct
  • allows compact representatives to attend the same Council meetings as resident associations, such as quarterly area review boards, to ensure that issues affecting the estate/block at local level are highlighted and to bid for funds for improvements 
  • holds residents’ meetings where required for consultation purposes, such as major works, refurbishments, improvement projects and external redecoration
  • is flexible working with residents so that, as well as dealing with residents as a group, the Council can when appropriate or necessary deal with residents individually.

Questions and answers on resident associations and compacts

Questions

Resident compact

Resident association

Are you required to sign up and work to the Council’s standard constitution?

No

Yes

Do you have to hold annual general meetings to elect chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer and other committee members?

No

Yes

Is there an informal agreement signed by residents who will represent the property/block/estate?

Yes

No

Is there a requirement to hold a minimum of four open meetings per year, as resident associations have to?

No (only as needed)

Yes

Do you need a bank account and keep accurate financial records which are audited annually?

No

Yes

Do you need to keep formal minutes of each meeting held?

No (just brief notes)

Yes

Can you attend area review board meetings and bid for improvement funding?

Yes

Yes

Can you apply for a resident association annual support grant?

No

Yes

Can you apply for councillor-held funding (City Living, Local Life)?

Yes

Yes

Can you apply for a one-off events grant to meet costs of organising a local event to encourage sense of community?

Yes

Yes

If you would like further information, please contact your community investment officer on 0800 137 111, who will be pleased to help.

You can also visit the Residents' association page.

Residents' Charter

This table summarises the two-way commitment between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Housing Management service and its tenants and leaseholders.  It encourages a culture of mutual trust and respect, partnership working and community cohesion.

  As your landlord we will: What you can do to help us:
1 Treat you fairly, as an individual, and always be honest about what we can and cannot do. Treat the Council’s officers and contractors fairly, and with the same level of respect you expect to receive.
2 Create genuine opportunities for you to work with us and tell us what you think about our services. Use your feedback to shape and improve the services you receive, making better use of technology where possible. Help us by telling us when things go well and when they don’t, so we can use your feedback to measure and improve services.
3 Take all reports of antisocial behaviour seriously, investigate and take appropriate enforcement action whenever possible. Respect your neighbourhood and act considerately towards your neighbours and ensure your family and visitors to your home do the same.
4 Maintain your home so it is safe, secure and weather-tight in accordance with the conditions of your tenancy agreement or lease and ensure that both Council operatives and sub-contractors deliver professional services.  Respect your home and help us to keep it in good condition by reporting all repair needs promptly and carrying out any minor repairs you are responsible for.
5 Let you know in advance when we may need to access your home, or when work in communal areas might affect you. Give reasonable access to your home so we can maintain it and keep you safe.
6 Provide high quality, professional services that are easy to use, offer good value for money, and provide information that makes sense and is transparent.  Pay your rent, service charges and other money owed to us on time and in full so that we can invest this back into your home, neighbourhood and services.
7 Be clear about what our, and your, responsibilities are so there is no confusion, and abide by the conditions of your tenancy/lease agreement. Understand and keep to the conditions set out in your tenancy or lease agreement.

 

Last updated: 27 October 2021