fancy joining the Government's new Social Housing Quality Resident Panel?

The Government have just launched the Social Housing Quality Resident Panel, bringing together social housing residents from across the country so they can directly share their views with the government and ministers on our approach to driving up the quality of social housing.

They are committed to listening to social housing residents, making sure they can have their voices heard and acting on what they hear. The Minister for Rough Sleeping and Social Housing has already met with residents across the country, and many residents took part in discussions when the development of measures were set out in the Social Housing White Paper. The new panel will be a way for tenants across the country to get involved in the work to drive up social housing quality.

The Resident Panel will be supported by a national survey. Around 5,000 residents will be asked to share their views about their landlord’s services during March and April 2022. The survey will be used to monitor the impact reforms will have on social housing residents.

topics of discussion

Residents should live in good-quality homes and neighbourhoods and feel safe and secure. They should know how their landlord is performing, be treated with respect and have their voice heard, and if they feel their landlord does not provide this service, be able to make a complaint promptly and fairly.

The Panel will discuss the measures already being delivered to improve social housing quality, making sure this is the experience of every social housing resident. Some of these measures include:

• Reviewing the Decent Homes Standard, which sets the minimum standard of housing every social housing landlord has to meet regarding hazards, states of repair, facilities and energy efficiency.
• Ensuring residents know how to raise complaints and have confidence in the system.
• Reviewing the training and qualifications available to social housing staff.
• Delivering a new access to information scheme for social housing tenants of housing associations and other private registered providers of social housing, so that information relating to landlords is easily available.

Wider issues which may impact on social housing quality, such as waiting lists, how much new social housing should be built and where this should be located, will not be discussed formally as part of this Resident Panel. They are important issues for many residents, but the Panel will on the specific measures being taken to drive up quality. A full list of topics for discussion will be agreed in the first meeting.

format of the meetings

The Social Housing Quality Resident Panel will involve up to 250 social housing residents from across the country, who will meet around three times a year for the foreseeable future. We will hold at least 6 meetings.

Full meetings of the Panel will be supported by smaller, focused discussions, which will follow up on points raised and agree targeted actions.

Short surveys and questionnaires may also be used to gather views.

how to apply

Any resident can apply. It does not matter how long you have been a resident or whether you have any previous experience in dealing with your landlord or engaging with the government – we just want to hear from you. You can apply here.

Applications will close on Friday 29 April 2022.

You may want to know more before submitting an expression of interest form. We have developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions below, which may provide the answer, or alternatively please email ResidentPanel@levellingup.gov.uk.

Read more and see FAQ's here.