Tenant Involvement at our housing charity

Tenant involvement at Zetetick

Zetetick Housing is a registered charity, a housing charity not a housing association. For us our ‘Bedrock Values’ mean tenant involvement is central to everything we do. As a charity specialising in supported living for people with learning disabilities or autism, we recognise how vital it is to give our tenants a voice and ensure their views shape the services we provide. However, the nature of our work brings unique challenges. Many of our tenants face barriers to traditional decision-making processes, whether due to behaviours that challenge or limited capacity.

Despite these challenges, our commitment to involving tenants remains central. As I have said, our approach is rooted in our core values: belonging, respect, determination, and the belief that everyone deserves a home where they can feel safe, valued, and supported.

How We Ensure tenant involvement has an impact on services

We have developed several tailored methods to engage with tenants and amplify their voices:

Tenant Events: These events provide a welcoming space for tenants to share their thoughts and ideas. We take great care to adapt these sessions to meet individual needs, ensuring everyone can participate as fully as possible.

Regular Surveys: Feedback is essential, not only from tenants but also from their families, advocates, and care providers. By gathering input from a broad range of perspectives, we gain a fuller understanding of how well we’re meeting tenants’ needs and where we can improve.

Specialist Housing Support Officers: Our officers visit tenants on a one-to-one basis, building trust and getting to know each individual’s unique circumstances. These visits are invaluable for understanding what truly matters to each tenant and ensuring their voice is heard.

Homeliness Visits: Our Trustees and non-frontline staff visit tenants in their homes to gain direct insights into their living environments and experiences. These visits help us stay grounded in the realities of our tenants’ lives and ensure we remain focused on their priorities.

Board Meetings: Tenant stories and feedback are the first standing item at every board meeting, ensuring their voices are first and foremost to decision-making at the highest level of our organisation.

Putting Tenants at the Heart of Our Mission

At Zetetick Housing, our aim is not just to provide housing but to create homes—places where people with learning disabilities or autism can live with dignity, independence, and a sense of belonging. Achieving this goes far beyond bricks and mortar; it requires listening to and acting on the views of those we support.

As a charity we are proud of the steps we’ve taken to involve tenants meaningfully, but we are always looking to improve. Tenant involvement is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to evolving our approaches to meet the changing needs of those we support.

Looking Ahead

As a housing charity, our goal is to ensure that every tenant, regardless of their capacity or challenges, has their voice heard and their views respected. We continue to explore innovative ways to strengthen tenant involvement and welcome any suggestions or ideas from others who share our commitment to this important work.
Work with us and support us  you can   or   to help our charity continue to place our tenants at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that Zetetick Housing remains a place where people feel valued and empowered.