Newham’s tenants and leaseholders will have more ways to get involved in how their homes and estates are run following Cabinet approval of a new Housing Resident Involvement Strategy today (16 Sep).
The strategy aims to ensure that residents are involved in driving important improvements to the Council’s housing services, and that tenants' and leaseholders' views shape the way the Council’s housing services are delivered.
The Strategy is one of the commitments the Council has made to tenants and leaseholders in Improving Your Homes, the Council’s Housing Services Improvement Plan.
The Involvement Strategy was developed with tenants and leaseholders through in person and online workshops, an online survey, and a six week consultation on the strategy proposals.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said: “Following the unacceptable C4 notice we received from the Regulator of Social Housing last October, rebuilding trust with our residents has been my top priority. Residents voices are central to how we shape housing in Newham. This strategy marks an important step in making sure our tenants and leaseholders are listened to, respected, and involved in decisions that directly affect their homes and communities. By working in genuine partnership with residents, we can provide the high-quality housing services they deserve and strengthen the trust between the Council and the people we serve.”
Cllr Blossom Young, Cabinet Member for Council Housing Improvements, said: “Any service that wants to improve must listen to the people who use it, make sure its service matches their needs and that changes are made as a result of what residents say. Residents’ voices must be at the heart of our plans for both improvements to their homes and to the wider improvements we are making as a Housing Service. Our Resident Involvement Strategy sets out clearly how this will happen – in decisions about their homes, their neighbourhoods and across the borough - and how the service will continue to change as a result of what residents have to say. It places resident voice at the very heart of the Housing Service.
“Newham residents should be involved in developing plans from the very beginning and be able to regularly contribute to the development of the services we provide to and with them, now and in the future. Too often, decisions have been made without asking the very people whose lives are affected by them. I am determined to change that, and I am very grateful to the residents who took the time to shape the development of this Strategy.
“This new strategy will support us to deliver better services that meet the needs and expectations of our tenants and leaseholders, working with them every step of the way.”
A previous strategy was produced and published in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The new strategy draws on the learning from the previous one, while also updating to reflect changing resident needs and new regulatory requirements for the involvement of residents.
The proposed activities outlined in the strategy are intended as an initial “menu of options” which will be developed over time, based on continuous resident feedback and evidence of impact in practice.
Five principles underpin the Resident Involvement Strategy:
- Transparency and accountability: We will be open with residents about how we are performing and our plans. We will make sure residents can hold us to account through clear communication, regular updates, and accessible reporting.
- Listening and responding: We will listen actively and seek residents’ opinions whenever possible. By responding quickly to concerns and acting on feedback, we aim to build lasting trust with our communities.
- A voice for local communities: We will enable resident groups that can not only last, but also develop over time. They will be a voice for strong local communities.
- Supporting collaboration: We will support strong local communities where residents get involved in making a difference. We will facilitate partnerships with the voluntary, community, and faith sector where they have shared aims and common interests.
- Being inclusive of all residents: We will ensure we have a good understanding of our residents’ needs and that activities and events are accessible to all Newham’s diverse residents. We value difference and will ensure everyone is treated with mutual respect.
The new strategy is a key part of Improving Your Homes, Newham Council’s wider Housing Services Improvement Programme, which aims to improve performance across housing services more broadly and which has been established in response to the C4 judgement received from the Regulator of Social Housing in October 2024.
To download a copy of the new strategy and to find out more about how it was co-produced please visit www.newham.gov.uk/tenantsandleaseholders.
