Introducing tenant-led scrutiny at Royal Borough of Greenwich: Why it matters and what happens next
Tuesday 28th of July 2026
At the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG), we’ve taken an important step towards strengthening how tenants influence and shape housing services.
Following a period of detailed engagement and design work, our Cabinet has now agreed proposals to introduce a new Tenant Influence and Oversight Panel (TIOP). Full Council has also approved the necessary constitutional changes to formally embed this panel within our governance arrangements.
This is a significant milestone for the council - but it’s also the start of the next phase of work.
Why tenant-led scrutiny?
Like many local authorities, we’ve been reflecting on what the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Consumer Standard means in practice.
For us, this was never about doing the minimum required to demonstrate compliance. Instead, it was about asking a more fundamental question: how do we strengthen our governance in a way that genuinely reflects the lived experience of our tenants?
We know that good decision-making depends on good insight. While performance data, professional expertise and councillor scrutiny all play a vital role, they don’t always capture what it really feels like to live in our homes and use our services.
That’s where tenant-led scrutiny comes in.
As Cllr Jackie Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Greenwich Builds and Estate Regeneration, explains:
“We were clear from the outset that this wasn’t about doing the minimum to meet regulatory expectations. We wanted to create something that genuinely strengthens our governance and brings tenants’ voices into the heart of how we make decisions. Tenant-led scrutiny gives us a different kind of insight - one that challenges us, helps us see things we might otherwise miss, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for residents.”
Crucially, this is about tenant-led influence and scrutiny. It’s not about asking tenants to comment on decisions after they’ve been made. It’s about creating the conditions for tenants to explore issues, set priorities and provide informed challenge in a way that is independent, credible and constructive.
Shaped by tenants - and supported independently
From the outset, we were clear that if this approach was going to be meaningful, it needed to be shaped by tenants themselves.
That’s why we established a Resident Steering Group - a team of residents who worked alongside officers to help design the model. Their contribution has been central to ensuring that TIOP reflects what tenants value, rather than what the organisation assumes is needed.
One of the tenants involved, Susan Musindi, described the experience like this:
“It was important to me that this wasn’t just another group where tenants are asked for their views but nothing really changes. Being part of the Steering Group meant we could help shape something from the ground up. We talked a lot about independence and making sure tenants would have a real say—not just be there to agree with what’s already been decided.”
Alongside this, independent support from Tpas has been a key factor in helping us develop a credible and well-balanced approach.
Tpas brought sector insight, practical experience, and an independent perspective that helped us test our thinking, challenge assumptions, and design a model that is both robust and proportionate. Just as importantly, their involvement helped build confidence among tenants and stakeholders that the process was not being driven solely from within the Council.
This combination of tenant input and independent expertise has been invaluable in getting us to this point.
What is the Tenant Influence and Oversight Panel?
TIOP will be a small, skilled group of eight tenants who will take on a formal role in influencing and scrutinising housing strategies, policies and services.
The Panel will:
- Focus on strategic and service-level issues that matter to tenants
- Review performance, policies and outcomes
- Provide constructive challenge and evidence-based recommendations
- Identify risks, issues and opportunities for improvement
It will operate independently of councillor-led scrutiny arrangements, while maintaining clear and constructive links with them.
Getting this balance right - independence alongside integration within our wider governance framework - has been a key priority in the design of the model.
What happens next?
With the model now agreed, we are moving into implementation.
There are three main stages to this work:
1. Recruiting the Panel
We will launch an open recruitment process to appoint eight tenants to TIOP. Our aim is to attract a diverse group of residents who bring insight, commitment and a willingness to engage with complex issues.
Once appointed, members will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from among their number.
2. Building knowledge and confidence
New panel members will take part in a structured induction and development programme, delivered with support from Tpas. This will help equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to undertake their role effectively.
We will also provide training for officers who will be working with TIOP, to ensure that the Panel is supported in a way that enables its independence and effectiveness.
3. Starting tenant-led scrutiny
TIOP will then undertake its first cycle of scrutiny, applying what members have learned to real issues affecting tenants.
This is where the new arrangements will begin to make a tangible difference.
Sharing what we learn
We know that many local authorities are thinking about how to introduce or strengthen tenant-led scrutiny.
As we move into implementation, we’re keen to share our experience - both what works well and what we learn along the way.
This blog is the first in a short series that will follow the development of TIOP. We’ll be sharing updates as the Panel is recruited, trained and begins its work, before bringing everything together in a webinar focused on how tenant-led scrutiny can be introduced in a local authority setting.
Looking ahead
The introduction of the Tenant Influence and Oversight Panel reflects our commitment to working differently with tenants - creating space for genuine influence, informed challenge and shared learning.
We’ve put strong foundations in place through engagement, independent support and careful design.
The next step is to bring TIOP to life - and to see the impact that tenant-led scrutiny can have in practice.