Tenant Participation

If you are a Langstane tenant, you have a right to participate. Langstane is committed to making sure that its tenants have an influence and are involved in shaping the service they receive. This commitment has been reinforced by the new Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. The Act took effect on 30 September 2002. The Act gives all secure tenants new rights with regards to tenant participation. Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords like Langstane must consult tenants when major proposals are made in relation to:

• Rent and service charges increases
• Repairs and maintenance
• Housing management
• Any possible change of landlord
• Tenant Participation Strategy

The Act also introduces Registered Tenants Groups (RTOs). These are tenant groups which satisfy certain conditions set by the Government. Langstane has to maintain a register of these groups. The main advantages of registering a tenants group are the accessing of Langstane Start - Up & Annual Grants. These groups also have a legal right to be consulted by Langstane in issues that affect tenants.

See below to view Langstane's Register of Tenant Associations and Organisations
 
Langstane has a full time Community Participation Officer who deals with tenant participation. We would like more tenants to become involved in shaping the way that we deliver our services and the Officer  can help you become more involved by;

• Helping interested tenants who want to set up a tenants group.
• Helping tenants groups become registered.
• Helping tenants groups with photocopying, typing, and producing newsletters and publicity information.
• Helping tenant groups with organising meetings, preparing constitutions, making an application for Start -Up and Annual Grants.
• Accessing conferences, seminars and training courses for interested tenants.
• Providing advice and information on Tenant Participation.

We have a Tenant Participation Strategy which sets out how tenants can participate with Langstane. We are always looking at ways of improving the strategy, so feel free to send in any comments or suggestions that you may have with regards to our strategy.

See below to view our Tenant Participation Strategy

Send us your comments or suggestions

Ways that you can participate

Langstane News

We publish our newsletter twice a year, so that we have a direct way of communicating and consulting with our tenants. We actively look for an input from tenants.

Tenant / Resident Groups

One way of getting involved in participation is through either setting up or joining a tenant/resident group. There are various reasons for tenants/residents to form an association. Here are just a few of the main ones:

• To organise around issues that affect the majority of people in their community, such as repairs, housing services, problems with neighbours, dampness, housing transfers, regeneration of neighbourhoods.
• To apply pressure on their landlord to achieve change.
• To have a representative voice. To provide the means for tenants to communicate with their landlord to influence decision making that affects them and their neighbours' homes.
• To give accurate advice and information to tenants/residents.
• To campaign on certain issues e.g. for better play facilities; for better housing conditions.

We provide start up (£150) and annual grants (£100) to our registered groups. We also help with admin support like typing, photocopying and mail costs. 

Register of Interested Tenants

You can also become involved in participation through our Register of Interested Tenants. The register enables interested among you to influence decisions, get your views and opinions heard as well as get involved in the participation process in a way that individually suits you. You get to choose the topics that interest you and how we contact you for your views. This could range from Anti-Social Behaviour to even contributing ideas for this newsletter. It is entirely up to you. Contact can be made through the post, a home visit, a phone call or even by email. We acknowledge that not everyone wants to attend meetings or join groups. In joining the register you get to choose which topics interest you and you don't even have to leave your front door to get your views heard. We will contact you directly when major developments arise on your chosen topic(s) of interest. If you are interested in joining the register, you can download a registration form, complete it then return it to Langstane.

Tenant Participation Working Group (TPWG)

You can also become involved in participation through the Tenant Participation Working Group (TPWG). TPWG consists of Langstane staff, Langstane Committee members, tenants and representatives from registered tenant groups. The TPWG started meeting on February 2004 with an aim of co-ordinating, implementing and reviewing tenant participation in Langstane.It also provides a formal platform for all parties to review and comment on policies. The TPWG meets on a quarterly basis in Aberdeen. Travelling expenses are reimbursed. Minutes of all meetings are available on request. If you are interested in becoming a member of the TPWG contact the Community Participation Officer.

By Becoming a Member of Langstane

We are run by a voluntary Management Committee who make the overall policy decisions for the association. The staff you deal with on a day to day basis are employed by the Committee to do the day-to-day work of running the Association.

The volunteers who make up the Management Committee come from Langstane's membership. All tenants of Langstane and anyone who lives or works in our area of operation can become a member of Langstane. For £1 you can buy a lifetime membership share in Langstane. All members have the right to stand for election to the Management Committee, attend all general meetings and vote in the election of the Management Committee. This allows you to have a real say in the running of Langstane. If you want to become a member, you can download a membership application form, complete it then return it to Langstane.