Although there are many aspects to good practice which are discussed in this guide, there are ten key points which, if followed, will go a long way to ensuring success. These are summarised below, and developed further in the remainder of the guide.

1. Gain top-level strategic and ‘political’ support at the outset

  • to ensure internal/local authority support for scheme

  • to secure resources
2. Tie scheme in with organisation’s corporate objectives/local authority objectives (by department) and aims of other relevant bodies
  • to secure internal support
  • to help landlords in dealings with local authority departments and other organisations
3. Get the right person to run the scheme
  • to have the internal and external authority to act
  • to have the skills to work with, not take action against, landlords
  • to ensure that sufficient staff are provided
4. Get local landlords on board from the outset – remember this is voluntary accreditation
  • don’t settle details internally and then attempt to impose them on landlords
  • keep landlords involved over time
  • listen to their views
5. Set clear and realistic standards
  • be upfront with landlords about what you want – don’t raise standards by stealth
  • be prepared to negotiate on standards and their interpretation
  • decide on what is genuinely non-negotiable
  • be upfront with tenants about what is realistic
  • consider graded standards
6. Develop clear and simple procedures and provide information on them
  • provide clear information to potential recruits
  • follow the procedures consistently
7. Get the publicity right and persist with it – do not expect instant results
  • use written materials and every possible media opportunity to promote the scheme
  • get landlords involved in promotion if possible
  • launch the scheme and keep in it the public eye
8. Get local tenants on board from the outset
  • make sure tenants know about the scheme
  • target some publicity specifically on tenants
  • involve tenants or their representatives in scheme development and keep them involved over time
9. Get the incentives right
  • talk to landlords about what they want
  • be innovative and imaginative
  • keep the incentives coming
10. Monitor and review the scheme
  • circumstances change – collect information on progress
  • identify if things aren’t going well and act quickly to address the problems
  • get feedback from landlords and tenants as frequently as possible