FAIR COMMUNITY HOUSING SERVICES

020 7378 0547

THE ESTATES

Fair Community Housing Services Limited (FCHS) is a community led management organisation responsible for seven estates located in the North of the London Borough of Southwark, situated along Tooley Street between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Our estates are:

Devon Mansions flats 1-180 and 331-489
St Johns Estate flats 1-79
St Olaves Estate flats 1-61
Lewes House flats 1-32
Coxson Way flats 1-23
Fair Street flats 1-18, 24 and 26
Hartland House flats 1-5

The age and make up of our estates vary widely, ranging from Victorian built flatted blocks to 60's built estates. In total we manage 557 properties, of which about half is owned by the Southwark Council and another half is owned by private individuals (leaseholders).

GOVERNANCE

FCHS is a Tenant Management Organisation (TMO). In short, this means that FCHS is an organisation run by the residents and for the residents; FCHS is NOT part of the Southwark Council.

Anyone who lives in the above listed properties, council tenants, leaseholders or private tenants alike, can become a member of FCHS.

The membership fee is a one-off payment of 10p. At the annual general meeting, FCHS elects a Housing Committee of 6-12 members. The members of the Committee are local residents who volunteer to donate some of their time towards the running of the estate. The Committee employs the office staff: manager, handyman, rent collection officer, financial officer etc. The Committee meets monthly and makes decisions related to the day to day running of the estate, such as estate improvements, repairs and renovations, parking, budget, etc. The Committee, together with the office staff, is also actively involved in organising various community activities for the residents.

HISTORY AND LEGAL BASIS

Since the Nineties, central and local government have invited local people to take a more active role in managing their communities by creating Tenant Management Organisations with delegated management and maintenance responsibilities. FCHS was created in 2004 as a part of this trend.

FCHS is a Friendly Society registered under the provisions of the Industrial and provident Societies Act 1965, the aims and objectives of the company are for the benefit of the community.

The foundational documents of FCHS are the Modular Management Agreement (MMA) and the Rules of the FCHS. MMA is an agreement between the Southwark Council and FCHS by means of which the Council appoints FCHS as its agent to carry out certain housing management functions. MMA is a comprehensive 200 page legal document which regulates many aspects of running of FCHS, but mainly its relationship with the Southwark Council and with the tenants. MMA can only be changed by an agreement between FCHS and the Council. The Rules of FCHS is a much more concise 17 page document which sets up the procedures for the membership of the FCHS, its meetings, the powers of the Housing Committee etc. The Rules of FCHS can be changed at the Annual General Meeting.

Accessibility | Sitemap | Mail