You know your area better than anyone. If you are the person in the block that everyone turns to when things go wrong or always know the right person to call when a problem arises, then you might be interested in becoming a block rep.
By telling us what you and your neighbours think and what is important to you, we can make sure that our services meet your needs. We are looking for people who can help us find solutions and keep tenants better informed.
Our aim is that your area will be better maintained and a nicer place to live. All block reps are unpaid volunteers. There are not any housing management or caretaker responsibilities. However, we are happy to cover any out of pocket expenses.
If you do not live in a block, we also operate a street rep scheme. You could become a street rep for your whole street or as little as six of your neighbouring properties.
If you are interested and would like to apply please read the information below:
Can I be a block or street rep?
Any tenant or leaseholder in a Southampton City Council property can become a block or street rep.
What area will I cover?
A rep will cover an area of at least six properties. There is no limit to an area a rep can cover, however it needs to be a manageable number of properties.
In larger blocks and areas, it is possible for two or more residents to cover the block rep role. If an area already has a tenants association (TA), we rarely set up block reps. We encourage you to get involved with the TA instead.
What does a block or street rep do?
You will provide a link between us and your block or area. We hope that this will ensure that residents are better informed and that we can better respond to your needs, improving your services and area.
As a block or street rep you might:
- Chat to your neighbours and complete surveys telling us what your neighbours think
- Go on area inspections with housing staff and neighbourhood wardens
- Tell us what important to you and your neighbours
- Meet other reps to share ideas and provide mutual support
- Signpost residents to our departments, when necessary
- Help at community events
- Provide your views about estate improvement, such as environmental improvement projects
You will be put on to the Tenant Participation Mailing List, giving you the option to get involved with conferences, training events, focus groups, and other consultation events.
Is there anything I should not do as a block or street rep?
Block and street reps are not there to:
- Get involved with neighbour disputes
- Take on the role of an unpaid housing worker, neighbourhood warden, or support worker
- Be responsible for the management of an area
- Use your position to raise individual or personal issues
- Raise the individual issues of other tenants
Code of conduct
All reps are required to follow the code of conduct for tenant involvement. This includes making sure you do not act in a way that could be considered discriminatory. Reps may be given sensitive information from time to time. We expect you to keep information confidential if we ask you to. We may remove our recognition of block or street reps if they abuse their position or do not follow the code of conduct.
