Customer involvement

Why set up an association in your local area?

There are a lot of benefits of having a tenants and residents association:

• tackle local issues
• represent local people when dealing with the Council or other organisations
• work with the Council to shape and develop future services for your area
• share information and advice with local people  

What you need to do to start an association

• ask neighbours if they are interested in having an association
• publicise the idea of an association in local shops, community centres and libraries
• if local people are interested, invite them all to a public meeting
• hold the meeting in a convenient place, for example a local hall, school or community centre, to discuss whether local people want a formal association in their area and agree what issues are important to everyone

Support and help available

Existing tenants' and residents' groups and new tenants' and residents' groups can get support and advice. Contact your local area Housing Office for further details.

This includes:

• producing leaflets, posters and other publicity material
• general administration support (agendas, invitations and minutes)
• organising meetings and events 

And financial support such as: 

• start-up grants for new associations to help with the first year's running costs
• annual grants to help with general running costs
• one off grants to help with costs or events not covered by other funding.

South Lanarkshire Tenant Development Support Project (SLTDSP) also:

• help new groups get started
• help make groups more effective
• offer advice and information on various housing and community-group issues
• offer training and resources to improve tenants' and residents' skills and knowledge

For more information on setting up a tenants' and residents' association contact your local area Housing Office or email housing.strategy@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.