Six Tenant Stories - How getting involved can turn lived experience into influence.

Sue Hodgson

"Why I got involved in housing and what it means to me - Being involved in both the Association of Retained Council Housing Tenant Group  (ARCH) and Thurrock Councils Housing Service Tenant Panel (HSTP), has given me the opportunity to represent tenants, influence housing services, and help ensure that residents are heard at every level of decision-making.  As a Council tenant I understand the importance of having access to safe, secure and well-managed homes, and I believe tenants should have a meaningful role in shaping services that they receive.

Through my involvement as Vice Chair of ARCH, I have worked alongside tenant representatives from across the Country to share best practices, discuss housing policies and promote best practice and promote the interests of Council tenants. ARCH and Tpas has shown me how tenant engagement, can influence local and national housing decisions, ensuring the experience of residents helps shape policies and services. As a member of Thurrock Councils panel, I have the opportunity to work directly with service heads and fellow tenants to review and scrutinise performance. This involvement creates a stronger partnership between the tenants and council. By being actively involved in both ARCH and HSTP, I can influence decisions, promote accountability and ensure that housing services, remain focused on the needs of tenants both now and in the future."

Joan Allen

I was first prompted to begin my involvement journey at the age of 14, because I was unhappy that my parents felt unable to challenge housing issues and concerns due to fear of eviction and little knowledge of their rights.
I began by attending a local Tenants meeting with my father and much to his horror, I raised my hand to question the reason why repairs and modernisation to our property were not being completed, along with neighbouring properties. All officials in the meeting could not give a reasonable answer and agreed to meet with my parents outside of the meeting, which resulted in all concerns being addressed in a short space of time.
I have since taken part in various meetings, where the voice of Tenants is being sought. I also became the founder member of Tenants and Residents Groups in London, Essex and different areas of Coventry. I worked with like-minded people, as Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Activities Coordinator, Chair and Board Member to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to voice views, issues, concerns, aspirations, and still do this today at the age of 69.
I have more memorable moments of when I felt my voice was heard than I can mention, but a couple that stands out for me is when I approached Haringey Council to help set up a Tenants and Residents Association after the Broadwater Farm Riots. A great success that brought the community together in such a way that it won a recognition visit from Princess Diana.
There was another occasion when the issue of damp/mould, ASB and disrepair was raised with my landlord, and this resulted in a complete revamp of the effected properties along with additional substantive exterior works of the entire local area. This resulted in people queuing to move into the properties/area instead of fighting to move out.
My journey of involvement has helped me in more ways than I can mention. Instead of sitting silently on the fence in fear, I have developed in knowledge, understanding and confidence, which has encouraged me to learn about my rights and responsibilities in various areas of my life, including employment and health. I have encouraged and supported others to express a voice, which has proved to be of benefit to many individuals and communities.
I would encourage other tenants to take courage and get involved. Join or formulate groups, so many voices can come together on a common purpose. It does not have to be in a huge time-consuming way. It can be just completion of a survey, attending an informal focus group event/meeting, or just engaging with your landlord when you feel they are not meeting expectations.
Engage with such bodies as Tpas, who are the champions in supporting the voice of tenants, to get guidance or support when the needs arise. Your involvement can only be a positive for both Tenant and landlord, my goodness, what a sense of achievement this could bring to yourself and others.

Troy Fores Masculet

Getting involved is about making sure residents real experiences help shape Peabody's services at a strategic level. It has never been more important for people to get involved in their communities, and I joined the Resident Led Panel because I wanted the perspective of people who actually use services particularly around repairs, communication and digital services, to inform or improve decisions which affect people and their homes. It gives me the chance to work with Peabody colleagues to turn feedback into practical improvements that make services clearer, fairer and easier to use. It also means encouraging greater accountability and transparency, so residents can see how decisions are made and feel confident that their views genuinely influence them. My advice to anyone considering it: give it a go. You do not need to be an expert, just willing to share your perspective.

Jane Elizabeth Wild

I am actively involved in Broxtowe Council meetings because I wanted to understand how their policies and procedures are generally practiced and to help improve services and communication with tenants.  I thought it would be good to get to know the people behind the names/official titles on Council emails and letters.
I wanted to share my personal experiences, both good and bad, with the Council and to make suggestions for improving working practices and communications.
My involvement in Council meetings has given me a better understanding of how Housing Services operate and how decisions are made. It also enabled me to hear the views and problems experienced by others and ensure they are discussed openly.  This exchange helps develop understanding and empathy between Council staff and tenants.
Making personal contributions, listening, learning and discussing other people's issues is important to help influence Council practices and attitudes of staff towards their 'customers'. 
If anyone is thinking about getting involved, I suggest you simply go to a meeting and give it a try.  You will meet other tenants and Council staff in a supportive environment.  A comfort break during meetings lets you chat informally to others whilst enjoying tea/coffee and biscuits.
If you want your Council to be aware of the impact on you or your neighbours of their policies, practices and communications this is a good way to ensure you can air them in a face to face setting.

Mrs Joan Border

I got involved in housing so that I could attend meetings, put faces to names and provide feedback to  other tenants on our site. Getting involved has made a big difference in helping to understand how housing works i.e. how departments need to communicate in order to access specific skill sets and ensure that works are scheduled in a logical chronilogical order. Also how budgetary contraints impact all works and whether or not they can be completed as planned. My top tip would be to ask to be included on a mailing list with details of forthcoming meetings where you can attend using zoom which allows you to see and hear and decide what areas are of most interest to you. Being involved gives me a sense of being seen and having my voice heard which stood me in very good stead at the last meeting I attended. A long empty property is now being made ready for occupancy because I was seen and heard. That only happens if you make it happen.

Liz Perryman

I first got involved because I wanted someone to hear what the councils decisions were doing to tenants. Nobody was listening and the forum was the place I thought might. That was 25 years ago and from the very first meeting I knew I was being heard.
Small changes happened over a few years, plain English letters and consistent checking on council jargon etc 
When we got a new engagement manager things changed dramatically and it's a totally different feel with things moving and changing so quickly it's hard to keep up.
Being on the board has taught me the way things worked and gave me the opportunity to help shape things for tenants. It has taught me how to navigate the system to be listened to and heard and show how to let others know what's happening. Neighbours talk to each other, so why not be the smartest person in the room? Contact the tenant engagement team and find out how you can get involved in the best way that suits you. There are so many different ways. We, tenants, are experts of our homes, so why not use that expertise to help shape our future.
The system works better together, it can't work without those who know to help change things for us all.