Obituary: Janet Storar MBE

11 April 2023

Local social housing champion, Janet Storar MBE, has died after a short illness.

Janet was the first Tenant Chair of the Board of Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham City Council’s former Housing Arms’ Length Management Association (ALMO) and held the role for seven years. She also served on a number of national social housing forums, including most recently the Housing Ombudsman’s Residents’ Panel, a national group that has been established in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy to make sure that social housing tenants have a say in housing policy.

Janet always made sure that Nottingham tenants’ voices were heard. She campaigned tirelessly for social housing, persuading the Government to invest in Decent Homes in Nottingham and leading campaigns against welfare reform. She spoke at rallies, joined marches, and wrote to MPs, the House of Lords and even the Prime Minister. She commented at the time, “I don’t flatter myself that it’ll make one iota of difference, but at least I’m going out and registering my disappointment, both as a council tenant of 40 years, and as Chair of a company that manages council housing.”

She always said that her greatest achievement was being awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to social housing – a well-deserved recognition of her commitment and passion. 

Kathy Sheldon, Assistant Director, Tenancy and Estate Services at Nottingham City Council said: “Janet was an integral part of housing in Nottingham, and of the social housing sector across the UK. She was a regular attender at tenant events and a real ambassador – she played her part wherever possible, and many of us will remember her very fondly for everything she did for council housing and council tenants.

“They say that good things come in small parcels, and Janet embodied that. She was a small lady with a huge spirit. She will be missed.”