Housing service and Tenant Volunteers nominated for prestigious award

Wokingham Borough Council’s housing service and Tenant Volunteers have been nominated for a national award that acknowledges outstanding achievements and innovative projects within local governments.

The Tenant Charter, created by the council’s tenant involvement team and a group of council tenants was a finalist in the ‘Innovation in Housing’ category of this year’s MJ Achievement Awards.

The nomination built on the previous recognition they received at the UK Affordable Housing Awards last November.

First published in 2019 and updated in 2022, the Tenant Charter sets out the views of council tenants on what is needed to modernise customer experience, ensure continuous improvement and provide quality homes to council tenants.

At present, 17 council tenants are taking part in the council’s Tenant and Landlord Improvement Panel as Tenant Volunteers, working alongside the council’s housing service team, councillors, and the voluntary sector to improve their communities. The Tenant Charter is one of the many projects they have been involved in.

Successful partnership and collaboration

Cllr Stephen Conway, leader of the council and executive member for housing, partnerships and the local plan, said: “Partnership is key to bringing lasting benefits to our residents, while supporting council priorities in times of financial challenges.

“Our joint effort with the council tenants to make improvements has already seen many successes, and we look forward to our partnership continuing to thrive in the years to come.”

Steve Bowers, chair of the Tenant and Landlord Improvement Panel, said: "We take pride in once again being recognised for our successful collaboration with the council and our hard work to make the lives of all council tenants better.

“We believe, by working together, we are able to respond to the current and future challenges we will face, and make council housing services as accessible as possible.”

About Tenant and Landlord Improvement Panel

Set up in the early 2000s, the Tenant and Landlord Improvement Panel ensures tenants are part of decision making and have a voice in the services their landlord provides, ensuring improvements are identified, developed and implemented.

The Panel is chaired and vice chaired by Tenant Volunteers. Other members include Tenant Volunteer Chairs of the formal groups, including communications; repairs and maintenance; and neighbourhoods. All these groups play a key role in making improvements that matter to the borough’s council tenants.