Learning, Sharing and Celebrating Tenant Voices in the North West

Wednesday 9th of April 2025

On Thursday 3rd April, we were delighted to bring together over 50 Tpas staff and tenant members from across the North West for one of our free regional member events — this time hosted by the fantastic team at Your Housing Group, a Tpas-accredited landlord, at their impressive offices in Warrington.

These regional events are all about connecting, learning, and sharing what’s really happening on the ground in tenant engagement — and this one didn’t disappoint.

Hearing from the Regulator: A Reality Check on C1

We were pleased to welcome the Regulator of Social Housing who delivered an insightful and informative session. One key message stood out loud and clear:

“C1 is not excellence — it’s just the standard.”

That really set the tone for the day. The message was clear — organisations need to be proactive, transparent, and deeply committed to involving tenants. Some key points shared included:

•    Tenants must be informed if a landlord is not compliant — and involved in the improvement journey.

•    Fairness and respect should underpin everything, but many landlords are still struggling to evidence this.

•    It’s not about ticking boxes — it’s about offering genuinely tailored, meaningful engagement that fits the needs and preferences of your communities.

•    “We tried and no one came” is not good enough. Engagement must be persistent, creative, and inclusive.

There were also some much-needed myth-busting — particularly around scrutiny. The Regulator isn’t prescribing how it should be done, but they are looking for solid evidence that it’s happening and that it’s making a difference.

Spotlight on Your Housing Group

We also heard from Your Housing Group, who are doing some brilliant work — especially around tenant engagement in high-rise buildings. Their approach stood out because tenants are truly shaping the engagement framework and helping design the methods that work for them. A great example of tenant voice driving real, practical change.

Sharing Success and Celebrating Impact

The networking session that followed was buzzing — members shared success stories, challenges, and practical solutions. From old-school door knocking to in-depth scrutiny reviews, the range of ideas and good practice was inspiring.

We wrapped up the day with one of our favourite moments — the Engagement Heroes Awards. Ten tenants received certificates in recognition of the incredible work they’re doing to make a difference in their communities and improve housing services. A huge congratulations to all of them!

Thank You A big thank you to Your Housing Group for being such generous hosts, to the Regulator for their candid and constructive insights, and to all the members who brought their ideas, energy, and passion to the day. These events remind us what tenant engagement can really look like when it’s done well — and why it matters more than ever.

Keep an eye out for future regional events — and in the meantime, let’s keep sharing, challenging, and raising the bar.

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