Together with tenants

Together with Tenants is a sector-wide initiative aiming to strengthen the relationship between residents and social landlords.

Together with Tenants reflects the great work housing associations are doing to build positive relationships with their residents. It was launched in 2019 to help challenge our sector to be ambitious and take a lead in accountability for their residents.

The charter is a clear set of commitments social landlords can make to their residents, enabling residents to hold landlords accountable on the issues that matter to them. Together with Tenants now has 225 adopters with over 2.4 million homes, equating to almost 88% of homes NHF members own.

If your organisation is interested in becoming a Together with Tenants adopter, find out more about how you can sign up, or read our case studies to explore how other housing associations are meeting the commitments.

The Together with Tenants Plan

We have been working with residents, an independent Tenant Advisory Panel, a Member Steering Group and our members to understand what change is needed. Through this, we developed a Together with Tenants Plan, which includes the charter.

Read the plan

Best practice case studies

We're collecting case studies in our library to help support our members with best practice meeting the Together with Tenants commitments. It includes examples of the different ways adopters have improved resident engagement and relationships.

Relationships and communication

Catch up on our previous webinars on Together with Tenants, where we’ve explored topics including communication, voice and accountability.

Watch now

The Better Social Housing Review

As a sector, we are taking action and learning from each other to address issues of quality and resident experience in social housing. Together with Tenants aligns with this work, providing a framework for housing associations to make positive change for residents.

In 2022, we commissioned an independent panel called the Better Social Housing Review to develop actionable recommendations for social housing providers. In response to the BSHR recommendations, we developed an action plan with CIH, outlining what we’ll do alongside housing associations to deliver positive change.

The Together with Tenants plan

We have established a four-point plan for change:

A new requirement in the National Housing Federation Code of Governance for boards to be accountable to their residents

We are producing a new Code of Governance, which will be published later this year, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, including residents. The new 2020 code builds on earlier versions to include provisions that the views and needs of residents and other customers must be at the heart of strategic decision-making.

A new Together with Tenants charter

The charter is designed to ensure all residents know what they can expect from their housing association landlord, regardless of where they live, what type of home they live in, or who their landlord is. You can read the charter below.

Resident oversight and reporting of progress against the charter

Resident oversight and public reporting against the commitments set out in the charter will give residents a stronger role in holding their landlord to account. This aims to prevent Together with Tenants from becoming a tick-box exercise that does not drive change. Boards will be expected to respond and take action where required.

Giving residents a stronger collective voice with the regulator

Resident oversight and reporting against the charter may uncover issues of interest to the regulator, including potential non-compliance with consumer standards. Linking the Together with Tenants approach to regulation in this way will ensure that action is taken where necessary to protect the rights and interests of residents.

Download the plan

"The Together with Tenants plan is an important next step. It asks for a real commitment from housing associations. This commitment is important, as it helps build trust in their relationships with residents."

- Margaret Ashmead, Optivo Resident

The Together with Tenants Charter

Housing associations that adopt the Together with Tenants charter are making six commitments.

Relationships: Housing associations will treat all residents with respect in all of their interactions. Relationships between residents and housing associations will be based on openness, honesty and transparency.
Communication: Residents will receive clear, accessible and timely information from their housing association on the issues that matter to them, including important information about their homes and local community, how the organisation is working to address problems, how the organisation is run, and information about performance on key issues.
Voice and influence: Housing associations will seek and value the views of residents, and will use this information to inform decisions. Every individual resident will feel listened to by their housing association on the issues that matter to them and can speak without fear.
Accountability: Collectively, residents will work in partnership with their housing association to independently scrutinise and hold their housing association to account for the decisions that affect the quality of their homes and services.
Quality: Residents can expect their homes to be good quality, well maintained, safe and well managed.
When things go wrong: Residents will have simple and accessible routes for raising issues, making complaints and seeking redress. Residents will receive timely advice and support when things go wrong.

Download the charter

Together with Tenants