History of the TMO

Following a long history of tenant participation within a rapidly changing public service climate in the early 1990s, the tenants and leaseholders of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea decided to pursue their legal right to manage their own homes. Following two separate ballots in 1994 and 1995, the Tenant Management Organisation was established on 1st April 1996.

On that date the TMO took over the management and maintenance of the entire housing stock of the Royal Borough (although an Estate Management Board manages the Lancaster West Estate). The Council still own the properties and retain responsibility for strategic housing policies and homeless people. The relationship between the TMO and the Council is governed by a Management Agreement, which covers all areas of the landlord business. Whilst the TMO still enjoys a close working relationship with the Council, it is a completely separate company.

In 2002 we become the first tenant-led Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO). We took over the responsibility for major capital works from the Council to access extra resources and funding to enable us to bring our properties up to the Decent Homes Standard.