Getting Involved

 
What is Tenant Participation and Getting Involved?

 Tenant Participation is about making sure that all tenants all have the opportunity and choice to have a say in the decisions that affect their homes and communities. Merthyr Housing is committed to tenant participation and will support residents interested in learning more about how they may become involved.

Involvement that Makes a Positive Difference

In our experience the benefits of developing Tenant Participation are:

• It can help improve housing management and maintenance services because staff and board are better informed.
• It can lead to greater tenant satisfaction because tenants are able to have a say in the service they get.
• It can give tenants more choice or power over their own homes and environment in which they live.
• It can help tenant board members to do their job of representing other tenants by opening up other ways of communicating.
• It can create a better sense of community on housing estates
• It provides a social element and a range of activities

There are several ways in which you may get involved:

• Join a Tenant & Resident Group
• Join the Tenant Service Standards Group (TSSG)
• Become a Shareholder
• Become a Board Member
• Volunteer with the Association

Staring a tenants group is not as difficult as it sounds. We can help you in lots of practical ways!

Here are some suggestions:

• Talk to your neighbours. They may share your concerns and what to get things done.
• Get together with a few other tenants to discuss.
• Hold an open meeting. Let other people know about the meeting and encourage them to come along. Knock on doors. Put posters up in places people use regularly.
• Decide who you want to chair your first meeting. Meet with them beforehand and discuss how you want the meeting to run and what you want out of it.
• Do not expect too much at your first meeting. Its aim should be to let as many people as possible say what should be done and agree to set up a group or committee.
• Agree a date for another meeting to discuss any progress made.
• Receive your £50 start up grant for your group from Merthyr Housing.

Interested?

Please feel free to contact

Nicola Garbett

Trainee Tenant & Community Development Officer

01685 352835

Niki Priest

Tenant & Community Development Officer

01685 352803

Donsherie Sonia-Sullivan

Tenant & Community Development Manager

01685 352804

Additional Support and Information:

Welsh Tenants Federation (WTF)

01685 723922

www.welshtenantsfed.org.uk

Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS)

02920 237303

www.tpascymru.org.uk