North East Members Fill the Room in Yorkshire – Big Questions, Bold Ideas, and Real Tenant Power
Friday 11th of April 2025
The room was buzzing as members from across the North East came together at Connect Housing’s offices in Dewsbury for our second regional event of the year. From as far as Newcastle in the north to Hull in the east, local authority and housing association staff and tenants filled the space for a day dedicated to networking, learning, and sharing good practice around tenant engagement.
The day kicked off with an informative and insightful presentation from the Regulator of Social Housing, followed by some clear and thoughtful questions from the audience. Here are just a couple that stood out:
“What does the Regulator do when the usual ‘bad boys’ keep cropping up in the Housing Ombudsman’s reports?”
The answer? They look deeper. More information is gathered, conversations are had, and yes, it can lead to inspections. It’s not about swooping in at the first red flag, but about spotting patterns, gathering evidence, and responding proportionately. The Regulator has a memorandum of understanding with the Ombudsman, and they work closely together.
Where the Tenant Influence and Accountability Standard is falling short, what kind of things are organisations typically getting wrong?
The response was that too many landlords simply don’t know enough about their tenants. That means they struggle to meet diverse needs – often due to weak data and poor insight. In some organisations – particularly local authorities – engagement with tenants is still falling short.
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Spotlight on Connect Housing – Co-Creation Done Right
Then it was over to our brilliant hosts, Connect Housing. Their session on co-creation, strategic involvement, and community investment showed what good looks like. One highlight? Their Scrutiny Bootcamp – 10 new tenants brought into the fold and 8 recommendations were accepted, and those are now tracked on the audit checker. Accountability in action. You love to see it.
Power in the Networking – Shared Learning, Stronger Communities
The networking session buzzed with ideas and insight. We heard inspiring examples of success stories, like tenants at Manningham Housing Association in Bradford linking up with tenants at Leeds Jewish Housing Association for joint activities of their choice – strengthening community and social cohesion in the process.
Other great projects included neighbourhood champions, scrutiny panels, tenancy support services, and brilliant community initiatives.
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Campaign in Focus: Stop the Social Housing Stigma
We were also joined by two fantastic tenants from Stop the Social Housing Stigma, a growing movement challenging the outdated stereotypes surrounding social housing and the people who live in it.
Their presentation was sharp, honest, and full of passion. They invited members to join the campaign, share their own stories, and help shift public perception. A major milestone is on the horizon – a parliamentary event in May to launch their new Journey Planner, a tool designed to map out and drive change. One to watch – and support.
Celebrating Our Engagement Heroes
We wrapped up the day with the TPAS Engagement Heroes certificates – a proud moment recognising the commitment and graft of tenant volunteers. Among many standout stories: two tenants from Hull City Council who’ve been engaged tenants for twenty years. What an achievement that is!
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A Big Thank You
A huge thank you to Connect Housing for being such welcoming and inspiring hosts. Thanks also to our fantastic speakers for sparking ideas and sharing expertise, and of course, to every attendee – staff and tenants alike – who made the day such a success through their openness, energy, and commitment to improving engagement across the region.
Final word? The North East is showing up, speaking out, and pushing the engagement bar higher. If you weren’t in the room, you missed a cracking day. But the ripple effects are already being felt – more conversations, deeper involvement, and a renewed focus on what tenant power really looks like.
Let’s keep the momentum going.