Search

Tenant working groups

Tenant working groups discuss general issues raised by, and affecting, tenants. They look at ways of dealing with them, as well as discussing the wider issues affecting the housing service and increasingly have a charter role in helping implement “tenant scrutiny” of the housing service being provided.

There are a number of working groups which tenants can become involved with:

With the Scottish Social Housing Charter now in effect, the tenant working groups are looking at the charter indicators and are involved in tenant scrutiny of the charter outcomes and standards. They have input to the annual report on the charter that has to be sent to the Scottish Housing Regulator in May each year.

The work of the tenant working groups is coordinated by the Tenant Participation Promotion Team (TPPT). Each group has a designated lead officer and a lead tenant. Tenants are encouraged to take an active role in the group and have an input to topics for discussion.

If you are a council tenant you can put your name forward for consideration to take part in these groups as and when vacancies arise.

The groups meet regularly usually at Gordon House, Inverurie. If you attend the meetings, your travelling expenses and agreed care costs are paid. Light refreshments are provided.

Tenancy services

This group influences, and has input, on tenancy management and housing finance policies, procedures and practices, and provides feedback to help us improve our tenancy management and housing finance service. It helps makes sure this service offers the best value and improves consultation with our tenants on changes to rent and other charges and on the standards tenants expect.

The group monitors the performance of the service and considers the effect new legislation and regulations may have. It also provides information for leaflets and the tenants' handbook and advice on tenancy management and housing finance.

Housing options and homelessness

This group influences, and has input on, housing options policies, procedures and practices, and provides feedback to help us improve our housing options service. It reviews our allocations policy, and considers common housing register proposals.

The group investigates choice based lettings and helps develop local lettings initiatives. It also reviews advice and information services, has input on the implementation and review of the homelessness strategy and develops customer feedback systems.

Asset management

This group influences, and has input on, council housing improvements and repairs policies, procedures and practices, and provides feedback to help us improve our council housing improvements and repairs services. It helps makes sure these services offer best value and improves consultation with our tenants on changes.

The group monitors the performance of these services and considers the effect new legislation and regulations may have. It also provides information for leaflets and the tenants' handbook and advice on council housing improvements and repairs.

Planning for the future

The planning for the future group contributes to parts of the local housing strategy. It makes sure that tenants are aware, and informed of, any changes in the law or in policies. Tenants in the group are given background information on topics in the local housing strategy for discussion, such as:

  • new build properties in Aberdeenshire
  • community safety
  • housing for people with particular needs
  • homelessness
  • fuel poverty

They also consider the strategic outcome statements for these topics.

The group develops effective communication between the strategic development team and other working groups. It considers training requirements for tenants, regulation and inspection issues about care and repair schemes, and the provision of sites for Gypsy or travellers.

Tenant Led Continuous Improvement scrutiny group (TLCi)

The Tenant Led Continuous Improvement scrutiny group (TLCi for short), began as a mystery shopping exercise and has evolved into being the tenant working group carrying out the main tenant scrutiny role on behalf of the Tenant Participation Promotion Team (TPPT) now disbanded.

Members of the group are tenants who have an interest in scrutinising the housing service provided. The membership varies depending on the nature and complexity of any current scrutiny investigation and non-tenants with particular skills may be co-opted to advise the group where necessary.

The group’s first scrutiny report on the options and homelessness service was published at the annual tenant event on 12 November 2016.