Involving ResidentsWe are committed to working in partnership with our tenants and leaseholders and providing them with opportunities for taking part in our decision making.
This section tells you about
- Your right to be consulted on matters which affect you as a tenant
- How you can take part in managing your home and local environment, and
- How we consult tenants
Why we consult our tenants
By law, we must consult secure tenants on matters affecting a group of tenants or all tenants. It is also our policy to consult as widely as possible with tenants and to work in partnership with them and their representatives.
By having a close working relationship with our tenants, and knowing their views, we hope both to increase tenants' satisfaction with their homes and communities, and to provide some of the best housing services in the country.
What the council consults on
We try to involve our tenants and leaseholders in as many aspects of their housing service as possible.
Major repair and improvement projects
Tenants and leaseholders can be involved throughout the process of repair and improvement to their homes and environment.
Through the consultation structure, tenants and residents are involved in setting priorities for repairs and improvements in their area. Once money is approved for a repair or improvement scheme, local residents benefiting from the work can be involved from its early stages in designing the scheme and monitoring its progress.
Usually, we start by organising a public meeting so that the residents can elect a representative group to be regularly involved in developing the scheme. These representatives can decide how much and in what ways they want to be involved. If the work on each home is different, for example, a choice of colours or equipment, we will ask all tenants and residents for their views.
Changes in rent and other charges
We consult the tenant council and local area housing forums over proposed changes to the rent and other charges.
Changes to the tenancy agreement
We consult tenants' councils, local area housing forums and individual tenants about any planned changes to the tenancy agreement.
How we consult
- Through your tenant and resident association (TRA) and the resident involvement structure
- By holding public meetings and organising roadshows
- Through letters and information leaflets to individual tenants and residents
- By questionnaires to a sample of tenants and residents. If you get a housing department questionnaire, please fill it in and send it back. What you tell us will help us to improve the service you receive
- By asking our customers to fill in 'satisfaction slips' containing their feedback on the quality of the service they've received. For example, when a repair has been carried out or when they have received a service at one of our offices.
How to join in and get involved
You can also get involved by becoming a member of
Further information
You can get more information on resident involvement in your local community by contacting the resident involvement team.
Ross Lambert
Social Inclusion
Tel: 020 7252 1227
Ross.lambert@southwark.gov.uk
Southwark Council
West House
Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UB
Judith Hendley
Interim Social Policy and Resident Involvement Team Manager
Tel: 020 7525 7337
Judith.hendley@southwark.gov.uk
Southwark Council
West House
Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UB |