Birmingham and Walsall Social Housing Tenants Have Their Say at 'Local Conversation' events
Around 100 social housing tenants from Birmingham and Walsall have attended ‘local conversation’ events this week hosted by Mercian Housing Association to contribute with their views on housing services and to shape the future of social housing in the UK.
The events are part of National Conversation campaign organised by the new regulator of social housing, The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) across England, where housing associations are encouraged to give residents opportunity to give open and honest feedback on their experiences and expectations of their landlords, in order to draw up a set of standards.
Birmingham based Mercian Housing Association, as a member of the Midland’s Network for Resident Involvement (MNRI) altogether hosted three ‘local conversations’ on Wednesday 4 March at The Phoenix Centre in Bordesely where residents from housing associations across the West Midlands (including: Mercian Housing, Family Housing, Midland Heart, Trident, BCHG, Accord, Waterloo, Bournville Village Trust and Moseley & District Churches Housing) heard a presentation about the role of the TSA and had the opportunity to ask questions and share their views by completing questionnaires which will be forwarded to the TSA.
Mercian’s resident and active Residents Forum member, Mary Dent said of the event, “I like to keep up to date with changes and I think today’s event has been a great way to keep residents informed about what’s going on and let us have a say in the process.”
John Paul Rappa, resident of Trident Housing added, “Today’s event has been good for introducing the TSA at a local level. The TSA promote resident involvement and I think the more resident involvement, the better.”
Customer Involvement Officer at Mercian, Clare Collinson said, “The aim of the events was to speak to local residents to find out what’s important to them. Listening to local residents provides us with valuable feedback on which services they would like and how they would like to receive them.”
The events highlight Mercian’s commitment to helping develop communities’ people take pride in, by providing opportunities for residents to have a say in how future services can meet residents needs and aspirations.
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For more information about the MNRI’s Local Conversation, call Mercian’s Resident Involvement Officer, Clare Collinson on 0121 322 7406.
Press Enquiries please contact Vicky Jones on 0121 322 7391 or email vjones@mercian.org.uk.