What can a tenants and residents
association do?

You can work with the council to improve your homes and estates. You can have a real say in decisions about spending money on housing improvements. You can have a say in housing policy - and make sure that tenants get the best deal. You can go on estate inspections with housing officers to point out the things that need doing on the estate and discuss issues of estate maintenance, repairs and improvements with housing staff in informal meetings and at formal committees.

You can do an estate manifesto - a door to door survey of what people want and feed your ideas into Housing's spending plans. You can campaign for something - like new windows, or other improvements to your council homes, or better lighting, a children's playground, or other improvements to the environment.

You can talk to the people in power - and make sure they listen to your views. You can have your say in all the decisions affecting your estate - and make sure you get the service you want.

You can also help build up some community spirit. Many associations run trips out, fun days, youth groups and playschemes