The National Tenant Scrutiny Conference 2026

8.30am – 9.15am

ARRIVALS AND REGISTRATION

9.15am – 9.30am

WELCOME AND CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

A welcome to the day and an introduction to the theme, The Art of Good Scrutiny.

9.30am – 10.20am

OPENING KEYNOTE

Keynote speaker with expertise and insight into scrutiny, challenge and accountability, exploring what good scrutiny looks like and why asking the right questions matters.

10.20am – 11.00am

THE ART OF GOOD SCRUTINY: PANEL AND AUDIENCE Q&A

A lively discussion exploring what great scrutiny looks like from a tenant, landlord and regulatory perspective.

11.00am

BREAK

11.15am - 12.30pm

MORNING WORKSHOPS

Choose from five practical and interactive workshops. See workshop menu below.

12.30pm

LUNCH AND NETWORKING

1.30pm - 2.45pm

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

Choose from five practical and interactive workshops. See workshop menu below.

2.45pm

BREAK

3.00pm – 3.50pm

SCRUTINY IMPACT SHOWCASE: WHAT CHANGED BECAUSE TENANTS ASKED?

Short, practical stories showing the issue, the evidence, the recommendation and the difference made. Featuring different approaches to tenant-led scrutiny, with an audience vote for the story showing the clearest impact.

3.50pm – 4.00pm

CLOSING REMARKS

Workshop

What it will cover

No nonsense guide to scrutiny for newcomers

A straightforward introduction to what scrutiny is, what it is not, how a review works and how tenants can ask useful questions without needing to be technical experts.

Collaborative scrutiny across landlords

Residents and staff from Hull City Council, Red Kite Community Housing, Vico and VIVID have dared to try a different approach to scrutiny. In this session you’ll hear about their progress so far, the lessons they’ve learnt along the way and plans for the future. Plus you’ll also have the chance to explore how you could approach a collaborative approach within and beyond your own organisation too, to improve service delivery.

Scrutiny that changes digital services

A practical case study showing how tenant scrutiny can shape websites, apps and online services through resident testing, evidence and challenge.

The questions good scrutineers ask

Practical skills for interviewing, following up vague answers, testing assumptions, separating evidence from opinion and knowing when to keep digging.

Scrutiny in local authorities

How tenant scrutiny can work effectively within democratic structures, including relationships with officers and councillors, access to information and routes into decision making.

Measuring the impact: answering the “so what?” question

How groups can track recommendations, evidence service change, demonstrate wider value and report impact honestly without over claiming.

Creating a culture where scrutiny can succeed

Why good processes can fail when organisations are defensive, selective with evidence or unwilling to hear challenge, and what tenants, staff, boards and councillors can do to create the right culture.

Governance, decisions and the route from recommendation to action

How scrutiny findings reach the people with authority to act, how responses should be challenged, and how oversight can continue until agreed actions are delivered.

Growing and sustaining a strong scrutiny panel

How to recruit, support and retain scrutineers, build confidence to challenge and keep the work purposeful, inclusive and effective.

Choosing the issues that matter now and next

How to identify what tenants should scrutinise now and in the future, balancing tenant priorities, performance evidence, complaints, regulatory findings, sector change and emerging risks.