Tenant Associations

What is a tenants association?

A tenants association is a group of people who get together to work and campaign for improvements in their area. As a recognised association tenants have a much stronger voice when dealing with the council and other organisations than an individual would have.

What does a tenants association do?

Many tenants associations have set up because of a particular issue - they may want to campaign for something new, for example a new play area or extra car parking.

Others may start up because they feel their area has been neglected and others may start because they want to arrange social activities in the area.

We can't predict what the issues may be that make you want to start an association, but in our local newsletters we regularly feature what tenants' associations have achieved in their areas.

Support for associations

We will help tenants to get an association started and to keep going. Once you have a properly elected committee you will be eligible for:

• A start-up grant to help with any running expenses.  After this, an annual top-up grant.  The amount we pay is worked out on the basis of the number of council-managed homes in your association's area.
• A stationery pack.
• Hall hire costs - we will pay for up to four hall hire fees per year so that you can hold public meetings.
• Free photocopying of newsletters, flyers and minutes.
• Attendance of council officers at meetings (when requested).
• Training to help your association to be effective.
• General help and advice.

Recognised tenant associations are also entitled to send an elected representative to meetings of the Tenant Consultative Group.

What we need from you in return

In return for our support and funding we expect associations to be run fairly and to benefit the whole community. To demonstrate this we require:

• A good level of support.  There are a number of ways of proving this.  A good way is to carry out a door-to-door survey before the first meeting;
• At least three open meetings a year, one of these being an annual general meeting (AGM) where residents can elect committee members;
• At least two newsletters a year, distributed to residents in the associations' area;
• A copy of the minutes of each meeting sent to us;
• The adoption of a constitution, usually within a year of getting started;
• Proper accounts, which are kept up to date and are audited each year (we provide a free auditing service for recognised groups).

These conditions help us keep in touch with you and ensure that we give you support you need. Even more importantly, they demonstrate to local people that the association is being run fairly.

What is a constitution?

A constitution is a document which sets out why the association exists and how it conducts its business. We can help you draw up a constitution and make sure it fits your needs and those of the people you represent.

Any group of people who get together to do a job need to have a common understanding about what they want to do and how they intend to do it. Without these they can easily find themselves at cross-purposes and nothing will get done. The people the association represents also need to be clear about how their group is run.

If you invite guests to attend your meetings or apply for funding from outside organisations they will usually ask to see your constitution.

Your constitution should cover:

• Your aims;
• How your group is organised;
• How you decide what you want to do and how you carry it through; and
• Safeguards to make sure your group is run in a democratic way.

Interested?