Getting Involved

What is Tenant and Leaseholder Involvement?

Tenant and Leaseholder Involvement is a two way process involving both tenants and leaseholders and the Council.

By forming a partnership with Oxford City Council, tenants and leaseholders are able to

• exchange information and ideas,
• become involved in the planning and delivery of housing services,
• play their part in decision making.

What Involvement opportunities are there for me?

• The Oxford Tenants' Resource Centre is based on Horspath Road and is open to all of Oxford City Council's tenants and leaseholders.
• Come along to our Oxford Tenants' and Leaseholders' Panels, they are a direct way of getting involved and influence the decisions that we make.  Each of the panels focus on a different aspect of the service we provide.
• You can receive information on how to apply for the Environmental Improvements Budget and details of successful schemes completed so far.
• There are currently 10 active Tenants' and Residents' Associations (TRAs) across Oxford. You can find out when the next meeting in your area is or request information on how to set up your own. TRAs are a great way to meet new people from your community and discuss how you can work together to improve the area you live in.
• Training opportunities are available throughout the year including free courses in IT, life skills and money management.
• You can become involved in our Mystery Shopping programme, allowing you to monitor and improve our services.

What are the benefits of being Involved?

• Forming a relationship with your local housing staff and councillors can lead to improvements in the way your housing service is managed and delivered.
• Tenants and leaseholders who have a say in their housing service often feel greater levels of satisfaction with the service.
• It can lead to tenants having more choice and power over their homes and the way in which they live.
• It opens up opportunities for the wider community to become involved in the running of its homes.
• It can lead to community activities that take on issues beyond housing and involve different groups of people.

Interested in becoming involved?

We actively help tenants and leaseholders to get involved in their housing service.

If you are interested in becoming involved, please view our Getting Involved Guide for more information:

Getting Involved Guide to Tenant Involvement (1328kB PDF)

Tenant and Leaseholder Compact

Our Tenant and Leaseholder Compact is about how Oxford City Council will involve you so you can influence decisions we take that affect you, your home and community.

You can download the documents below. Please note these documents are currently under review:

Compact Cover (4068kB PDF)
Compact Summary (2529kB PDF)
Compact 2007 (3375 kB PDF)
Updated Compact Action Plan 2009 (1781 kB PDF)

Our officers are happy to help and can offer advice on funding, training and other involvement activities.

For information or enquiries on Tenant and Leaseholder Involvement, contact the Communities and Neighbourhoods Team on 01865 252791 or at communities@oxford.gov.uk.

Tenant Participation Advisory Service

The Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) is the leading national tenant participation organisation working to promote tenant empowerment.

TPAS Provides -

• A freephone helpline and information service for landlord members.
• Conferences and seminars on all aspects of tenant involvement.
• A training programme for tenants and housing workers.
• Consultancy work with tenants groups and landlords.
• In-house training on request.
• We also have links with Central Government and help to develop government policy around tenant participation issues.

For more information visit the Tenant Participation Advisory Service website  or call 0500 844111

Page last reviewed 30 November 2011