Letters to the Editor. Jan 25, 2008. "People, not institutions, are the problem".   Dear Editor, In his letter, Damning evidence against Housing Corporation, (Inside Housing, 18 January), Martin Dawson lists a string of problems. But it is not exhaustive, and it is worth mentioning that an effective housing ombudsman may well have been able to help with some of difficulties. Many tenants see the social housing industry as a dysfunctional, self serving, and incompetent farce. But it is not the fault of the charter, rules or standing orders behind these two offices; the shambles stem from the people running these institutions, and the choices that they have elected to make. The Housing and Regeneration Bill and Professor Martin Cave’s report are an opportunity for real improvement. If the staff in charge of the corporation are simply transferred across to the newly proposed bodies, then this chance will certainly be lost within a month. The government, Professor Cave and social tenants deserve a break, and they should receive it in the form of regulating institutions which are properly new from bottom to top.   Yours sincerely, Peter Rutherford. Independent Federation of Genesis Residents   Back to the WHHA web-site Back to the IFGR web site