Tenants helping to bring about change

Social housing tenants from across the region came together to share ideas and learn new skills, in order to help bring about important change in the social housing sector.

The biannual South Coast Training event was an important opportunity for tenants to learn more about new housing regulations which aim to improve the safety and quality of social housing, and ensure residents can make their voices heard and hold their landlord to account.

Workshops were delivered by independent tenant engagement experts from Tpas, covering the new Consumer Standards and Tenant Satisfaction Measures which empower tenants to influence how their landlord sets priorities and makes decisions. Participants learnt more about how to manage and use complaints to scrutinise the council, and also developed valuable communication and influencing skills.

Helen, a tenant from Thornhill said:

“It was a really informative day and I learnt a lot about how we as tenants can genuinely influence the housing service. It was also really nice to meet residents and staff from other councils and housing associations from across the South, to share information and ideas.”

The South Coast Training initiative first launched back in 1999 when Southampton City Council housing staff united with five other social housing providers to organise a pioneering regional conference. Since then, the training initiative has gone from strength to strength and now boasts two events each year encompassing representatives from:

• Gosport Borough Council
• New Forest District Council
• Bournemouth
• Christchurch and Poole Council
• Abri
• VIVID Housing
• Winchester County Council
• Portsmouth City Council
• Southampton City Council

To find out more about any of the issues discussed at this event, or to get involved in future tenant training opportunities please contact our Tenant Engagement Team.