National Tenants Conference 2025

“The Culture Shift?” – Is New Regulation Creating Real Respect in Social Housing? Over a year into this new era of regulation, we’re asking a critical question:

Are these changes driving real cultural transformation — where fairness, respect, and genuine listening to tenants aren't optional, but expected?

Through workshops, discussion, and shared learning, we’ll unpack what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still needs to shift.

Provisional Programme - please note this is subject to change and workshop time slots may be moved

Day One – Wednesday 9 July

08:30 – 09:30
Registration & Exhibition – Passport Stamp Challenge begins

09:30 – 10:45
Opening Session – Welcome & Keynote Speakers
Mark Perry, VIVID CEO & Kai Jackson, Tenant Scrutiny Chair

10:45 – 11:05
Refreshment Break

11:05 – 12:35 | Workshop A

A1 – Creating the Right Culture: Ensuring Tenants Are at the Heart of Change
Explore how tenants shape organisational culture through diverse voices and meaningful engagement. Learn how collaboration, trust, and continuous improvement can grow from the ground up.

A2 – Mastering Meetings: Chairing with Confidence, Contributing with Impact
Whether you're leading or participating, this session gives you tools to manage time, stay focused, and make meetings more effective.

A3 – Building Safety and Resident Engagement: Progress Since 2017 and the Journey Ahead
A reflection on change since Grenfell and Awaab Ishak. Where are we now, and what still needs to change to make homes safe and tenant voices stronger?

A4 – Unlocking Social Value Funds: How Can Tenants Access and Maximise Impact?
Discover how tenants can tap into social value through landlord contracts, with real-life examples from national suppliers and the MatchMyProject platform.

A5 – Engaging Ethnic Minorities: Is There a Seat at the Table?
Who’s being heard – and who’s missing? A powerful conversation about inclusive engagement, featuring insights from the landmark Is There a Seat at the Table? report.

A6 – Data Demystified: Use It, Question It, Make It Work
Cut through the jargon and learn how to use data to ask better questions, challenge poor performance, and feel more confident in your engagement work.

12:35 – 13:50
Lunch + Networking & Optional Drop-In Sessions

13:50 – 15:20 | Workshop B

B1 – Involving Tenants in Complaints: What Works and Why
Explore how tenants can help shape complaints processes – not just raise them – to ensure fairer, faster, and more transparent outcomes.

B2 – Initiating Change: Practical Steps to Influence and Hold Your Landlord to Account
Learn a six-step approach to planning change, and practise using it in the session. Leave with a clear plan and a renewed sense of purpose.

B3 – Contracts, Costs & Your Voice: Tenants in the Procurement Process
Find out how the new procurement rules affect you and how tenants can help shape contracts that work for communities.

B4 – Communities Doing It for Themselves
Explore grassroots organising and community-led action. St Leger Homes will showcase inspiring tenant-led projects and the local impact they’ve made.

B5 – Good Practice and Engagement: The West Lancs Borough Council Story
Learn how West Lancs achieved a C1 regulatory rating – and how strong tenant engagement was central to their success.

B6 – Looking After Yourself with the Tpas Wellbeing Coach
Feeling stretched? This session offers a chance to pause, reflect, and learn self-havening – a quick, powerful technique to manage stress.

15:20 – 15:35
Short Break

15:35 – 16:45
In Conversation with the Regulator – Over Afternoon Tea
Join Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at the Regulator of Social Housing, for an open Q&A reflecting on the first year of proactive regulation.

16:45 – 19:00
Delegate Free Time

19:00 – 22:30
Evening Meal + Entertainment & Games Night in the Bar Area

Day Two – Thursday 10 July

08:15 – 09:15
Morning Networking 

09:15 – 10:45 | Workshop C

C1 – In Conversation with the Ombudsman
Meet Verity from the Housing Ombudsman team to explore how tenant complaints lead to service improvements – and how to make your voice count.

C2 – Stepping Up: Support and Insight for Tenant Board Members
Whether you're on a board or thinking about joining one, this session gives insight into what works and what support helps tenant leaders thrive.

C3 – Rewards and Incentives: What Is the Best Approach?
Explore research findings and debate what good incentives look like in tenant engagement – and how to keep things fair and inclusive.

C4 – Regulation in Action: What It Means for Tenants
Get info and insight directly from the Regulator, and share your experiences of what’s changed since the new regulatory framework landed

C5 – Engagement for All: LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Housing
Hear real stories, explore the Housing Pledge, and learn practical steps to make engagement more inclusive for LGBTQ+ tenants.

C6 – The Future of Tenant Engagement
With regulation evolving, what’s next for tenant voice? This session invites you to help shape a more inclusive, effective future for engagement.

10:45 – 11:15
Refreshment Break

11:15 – 12:45 | Workshop D

D1 – Rethinking Scrutiny: Diverse Approaches to Achieving Outcomes
There’s no one way to do scrutiny. Hear from tenants and landlords using different models to hold services to account

D2 – Social Media and Digital Engagement
How can digital tools bring tenants and landlords together? Explore what works in online engagement and what to avoid.

D3 – Awaab’s Law – MHCLG Listening Session
The Ministry of Housing wants to hear from you on how to support tenants ahead of Awaab’s Law being introduced in October 2025.

D4 – Handling the Hard Stuff: Dealing with Conflict and Difficult Situations
Learn practical tools to stay calm, manage disagreements, and handle challenging situations with more confidence.

D5 – Power in Practice: How Tenants Influence in Council Housing
Discover how Wigan Council puts tenants at the centre of decision-making  and how real collaboration leads to real impact.

D6 – Trust, Respect and Fairness: Is Stigma Still in the Way?
Led by the G15 Residents’ Group and Stop Social Housing Stigma campaign, this session tackles stigma in social housing – and how we challenge it.

12:45 – 13:45
Lunch + Networking

13:45 – 14:30
Your Voice – Live Tenant Panel + Certificates & Passport Prize Draw

14:30 – 15:00
Farewell Café – Reflect, network, and give feedback over a brew

Evening meal and entertainment included in prices

2 day member only rate - £515 

2 day non-member rate - £665 

For carers cost please contact us 

All ticket costs are subject to VAT

Hotel Information 

We have a special rate for bedrooms at the conference on Tuesday 8th July and Wednesday 9th July.  These can be booked directly with the hotel.  The cost of these rooms is £126 per room per night, bed and breakfast.  To book, use this link 

Please see details below on other hotels that are local to the conference venue.

There is plenty of free parking at the hotel (You will need to validate your parking ticket on arrival).

The hotel is approx. 20 minutes drive from Coventry town centre and train station. A taxi will cost approx. £15.

The Double Tree Hilton has some fabulous leisure facilities for you to take advantage of, there is a pool and fitness centre!

Visit the hotel website to see their accessible amenities

The hotel has limited accessible rooms so if an accessible room is required, we would recommend you book your room as soon as possible.

Please note - there are other hotels in close proximity to the venue, however these are difficult to access on foot as it involves crossing a busy dual carriageway.  We would recommend where possible, staying at the conference venue, to save on taxi costs.

Other Local Hotels

There are 2 other hotels close by.

Holiday Inn Coventry

Located 0.6m miles from the venue. This hotel has 4 accessible rooms
To book visit their website

Premier Inn Coventry East

Located 0.6miles from the venue. This hotel has 2 accessible rooms
To book visit their website.  The hotel also has an onsite restaurant.

Further information

To make your booking you will need an account for the Tpas website - if your organisation is a Tpas member and you don't already have an account, seach for the organisation here.

If you have any issues with booking your conference place, please email lisa.holt@tpas.org.uk

If you have any other questions or need further information about the conference, please call Jordan Walker on 0161 871 8521 or email jordan@connectin.co.uk

For any cancellation or amendments once you have booked, please check out our terms and conditions.  Please email Lisa.holt@tpas.org.uk for further information.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in becoming a conference sponsor, please contact penni@connectin.co.uk

You can download our sponsorship brochure here

Our Event sponsors