Consultation

Your rights to be consulted on matters that affect you as a tenant

By law, the council 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. A few examples are shown below.

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.

Changes in rent and other charges

The council consults with the Tenant Council and neighbourhood forums over changes to rent or other charges. It also consults or has consulted on other changes, for example

• Changes to the tenancy agreement
• The transfer of council homes to another landlord
• The tendering of council housing management services to a private company or housing association

The council carries out these consultations through

• Tenant and resident associations (TRAs)
• Letters and information leaflets
• Questionnaires
• Neighbourhood forums
• Tenant council
• Leaseholder council
• Elected councillors

How to join in and get involved

You can get involved by becoming a member of

• A tenant and resident association 
• An area housing forum
• Tenant council 
• Leaseholder council
• Tenant management organisation (TMO)

For further information

Consultation process contact your area housing office and see the tenants' handbook section on 'working together, tenant involvement'. (68.9kb)

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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