OIC and OHAL home in on tenants keen to join their Residents’ Panel!

Orkney Islands Council (OIC) and Orkney Housing Association Limited (OHAL) are looking for tenants and residents interested in becoming members of their Residents’ Panel.

The joint venture was set up in 2014 with its main objective to deliver improvements to the service through the views of tenants and residents (anyone who owns a share of their social property).

The volunteer members will attend scheduled meetings, up to four times a year in-person or online. At these meetings the Panel will discuss areas relating to the housing service and put forward any recommendations for improvement. There are also opportunities to review policies and input into documents to ensure they are clear and easy to understand.

Claire Pritchard is Tenant Participation Officer with the Council. She said: “The Panel gives tenants and residents a greater voice and a chance to have their say in a way that can influence change for the better.

“We are keen to see folk from a range of different backgrounds and ages (you must be 16 or over) to get involved so we can get as wide a range of views as possible. There’s no requirement for qualifications or training – we just need you to be a tenant or resident of OIC or OHAL and live in the local community.”

Suzy Boardman, OHAL Communications and Engagement Officer, added: “There are many benefits to becoming a member of the Residents’ Panel, some of these include meeting members of your local community, having your say and improving services relating to housing, influencing decisions and an improved sense of community.”

Linda Lennie has been a council house tenant for many years and a member of the Residents’ Panel since 2016.

Linda said: “I have always had an interest in social housing and the importance of tenant involvement other than simply complaining to officials.

“It was around 2016 when I first attended the Tenant Participation Group as it was called then – a move actually borne out of frustration over what I felt was a lack of communication with my landlord after major repair works were carried out to my home.

“I strongly believe that by keeping the communication channels open in both directions problems can be dealt with as they arrive, and then they are no longer problems.”

If you would like to know more or discuss becoming a member of the panel, please contact:

OHAL tenants - Suzy Boardman – Communications and Engagement Officer, Orkney Housing Association: Telephone: 01856 875 253 (extension 205) Email: suzy.boardman@ohal.org.uk

OIC tenants please contact Claire Pritchard - Tenant Participation Officer, Orkney Islands Council:
Telephone 01856 873 535 (extension 2179)
Email: claire.pritchard@orkney.gov.uk