Tenant feedback sought by OIC and OHAL

The Council and Orkney Housing Association Ltd are keen to discuss tenant participation opportunities with social housing tenants during a number of drop-in sessions in Kirkwall and Stromness.

Tenant participation provides tenants with the opportunity to work with their landlord to improve aspects relating to housing services. Tenants can get involved through a variety of methods, including:

• Forming a Residents’ Group with local community members.
• Becoming a member of our Residents’ Panel.
• Taking part in surveys relating to Housing Services.
• Reading our news and updates, including the Housing Services newsletter (OIC) and Rooftops (OHAL) newsletters.

Tenants can choose a level of commitment to suit them and do not need to devote too much of their time. OIC and OHAL want to ensure that every tenant has the chance to get involved. To ensure this, engagement opportunities will be offered through a variety of methods, both online and in person. There will also be one-off, low-level commitment events such as these drop-in Sessions.

Tenant participation is key to the shaping of social housing services now and into the future. Further, tenant participation can provide tenants with a means of making positive changes to their local community. Claire and Suzy are keen to discuss the benefits of tenant participation and the ways that tenants can get involved.

Claire Pritchard, OIC Tenant Participation Officer and Suzy Boardman, Communications and Engagement Officer with OHAL will be at various locations on 26 April and 3 May 2023 in Kirkwall and Stromness to hear views and try to answer any questions folk may have.

Claire said: “We want to hear from our tenants as their feedback helps us to improve the services that we provide. We are keen for tenants to become more involved in decisions that may affect them.

“We will be on hand to listen but also to explain what tenant participation is, what it involves and the advantages of getting involved.”

Suzy added: “Tenants sharing their views can influence decisions and policy changes that impact directly on them and the wider community in regard to their social housing.

“We, as landlords, have a responsibility to listen to our tenants so we are keen to see as many people as possible at the drop-in sessions.”

There will be light refreshments provided at the sessions:

Wednesday 26 April 2023 – St Magnus Centre 11am-12noon; Kirkwall Community Centre foyer from 12.30pm-1pm and the Kirkwall Community Fridge 8.30pm-9pm.

Wednesday 3 May 2023 – Stromness Community Fridge 12noon-2pm and 8.30pm-9pm.

To find out more contact Claire on 01856 873525 ext 2179 claire.pritchard@orkney.gov.uk or Suzy 01856 875253 suzy.boardman@ohal.org.uk