http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/20/section/25Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009An Act to make provision for the purposes of promoting public involvement in relation to local authorities and other public authorities; to make provision about bodies representing the interests of tenants; to make provision about local freedoms and honorary titles; to make provision about the procedures of local authorities, their powers relating to insurance and the audit of entities connected with them; to establish the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and to make provision relating to local government boundary and electoral change; to make provision about local and regional development; to amend the law relating to construction contracts; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-24Expert Participation2026-07-15 Part 1Democracy and involvementChapter 4HousingEstablishment and assistance of bodies representing tenants <Abbreviation Expansion="Et cetera" xml:lang="la">etc</Abbreviation>251The Secretary of State may—aestablish a body with the functions specified in subsections (2) to (5);bgive financial or other assistance to any person for the purpose of establishing a body with those functions;cgive financial or other assistance to any body appearing to the Secretary of State to have those functions for the purpose of the carrying out by the body of any or all of those functions.2The function in this subsection is that of representing, or facilitating the representation of, the views and interests of—atenants of social housing in England, orbtenants of social housing and other residential property in England.3The function in this subsection is that of conducting or commissioning research into issues affecting—atenants of social housing in England, orbtenants of social housing and other residential property in England.4The function in this subsection is that of promoting the representation by other bodies of—atenants of social housing in England or any part of England, orbtenants of social housing and other residential property in England or any part of England.5It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) to (c) that a body may also have other functions.6Assistance under this section may be given in such form (including financial assistance by way of grant, loan or guarantee) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.7Assistance under this section may be given on such terms as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.8The terms on which assistance under this section may be given include, in particular, provision as to the circumstances in which it must be repaid or otherwise made good to the Secretary of State and the manner in which that must be done.9A person or body to whom assistance is given under this section must comply with any terms on which it is given.10In this section—“social housing” has the meaning given by section 68 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (c. 17);“tenant”, in relation to social housing, has the meaning given by section 275 of that Act.