RHA is committed to working with tenants to ensure that the service provided is the best possible for its tenants. You, as a tenant of the Association, can tell us how we can improve the service we offer and we welcome your involvement. With your help we can ensure that we meet the needs of our tenants and the wider community.

We aim to achieve this in three different ways. Firstly we will give you as much information as possible so that you understand how we work. Secondly, we will consult with you regularly. Thirdly we will encourage all our tenants to participate actively through tenants’ groups or the Tenants’ Forum.

We produce a quarterly newsletter, ‘The Way Ahead’, for our tenants with extensive input from the tenants on our editorial panel. We will keep you informed of our policies and procedures and ask for your views on these. Each year we will send you a copy of our annual report, which gives you information on who we house, where we house them, how quickly we let vacant houses, arrears levels, cost of services and maintenance response times.

We will always consult you on any matter that affects your home or your tenancy for example when undertaking major building work and improvements.

We will seek your views on the service we provide and the effect our activities have on your area. This will include regular tenant satisfaction surveys, letters and meetings.

There is no need to wait until we approach you. You can always approach us, individually or in a group, about any aspect which affects you or which you would like to change or influence in some way.

Tenants’ Associations

Some of our tenants belong to Tenants’ Associations. Tenants’ Associations are a good way of ensuring that tenants are well represented and they also let tenants become actively involved in the running of their homes or estates. These groups are run independently of the Association, with their own committee. You don’t have to meet formally as an official association however, you can meet informally to give people a chance to get to know each other.

If you want to set up a residents’ group or tenants’ association we can help you. We can provide you with funding, training and support. We will also give practical support such as photocopying and sending letters.

The forming of a tenants’ association is not as difficult as it may sound and allows the Association to understand better local concerns. Together we can make positive changes where necessary and it can be a good opportunity for tenants to get together and create a more caring community.

You can get independent advice about tenants associations from various organisations, if you would like the details of these organisations ask your Housing Officer.

Tenants’ Forum

The Tenants’ Forum was established in 1998 to form a partnership between Rhondda Housing Association and its tenants. The Forum consists of approximately 25 members who are voted in at the Annual General Meeting and has a committee who work closely with the staff of the Association. All tenants are welcome at the meetings with a view to becoming a member if they wish when a place becomes available.

Meetings take place four times year, however several sub groups meet regularly throughout the year. Sub groups include social committee, policy and procedure group, community development focus group and best value group.

One further sub committee of the Tenants Forum is Rhondda Housing Association Disability Advisory Group (R.H.A.D.A.G). This group is made up of tenants of the Association who offer advice and information to other tenants who may have disabilities or mobility problems. If you have any issues that you would like to discuss or you would like to become a member of the group your Housing Officer can give you the contact details for RHADAG.

The Association in conjunction with the Tenants Forum organises many social events throughout the year such as the Tenants Fayre and Christmas party as well as various day trips. Why not come along and meet staff and other tenants in a very informal, friendly situation. All events are advertised in ‘The Way Ahead’.

To download our Tenant Participation Strategy, please click here