Coastline Housing has become the first housing association in Cornwall to be awarded the national Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) accreditation for its work in involving tenants in its business.

TPAS is a national tenant participation organisation which works with social housing residents and landlords to improve the level and quality of tenants’ influence.

Accreditation means that Coastline’s resident involvement has been successfully tested against 29 different criteria, via a series of on site visits, focus groups and other research by inspectors.

Michelle Reid, Chief Executive of TPAS, came down to Cornwall to present the award to involved staff and residents during a celebration lunch event at Trelissick Gardens, near Truro.

Louise Beard, Director of Housing and Support at Coastline, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and is the result of tenants, staff and board members working together to ensure that customers are at the heart of Coastline. Getting the accreditation has been a very challenging journey and one that could only have been completed with the input and support of our tenants, so I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all of them.”

Coastline Housing Ltd is an independent, not-for-profit housing association owning and managing over 3,700 homes across Cornwall. The Company’s mission is to: build quality affordable homes, maintain its properties to high standards and provide excellent services to its many customers and clients.

The challenge faced by Coastline is enormous. At 13 times average earnings in many areas of Cornwall, high house price rises have excluded many people from owning their own home.