Tendring tenants and leaseholders continue to play a central role in shaping how the district’s 3,000 council homes and 450 leasehold properties are managed, with growing involvement helping to improve services and strengthen support for residents across the district.

The Tenant Panel — made up of volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds — works closely with Tendring District Council (TDC) to ensure housing services reflect real tenant experience.

The group provides insight, constructive challenge and practical ideas that directly influence how homes and neighbourhoods are maintained.

The panel will hold its next quarterly meeting on 19 March, building on a particularly active 12 months of engagement.

Panel chair Carol McDougall said: “Our panel gives tenants a real say in how their homes and neighbourhoods are looked after, and that voice is making a difference.

“Every meeting brings new ideas and honest conversations about what works and what needs to improve.

“We want all tenants to feel confident that they can influence the services that affect them.”

Residents took part in a wide range of activities, including a strong response to the latest published Satisfaction Survey, which showed 81 per cent of tenants are satisfied with the overall service they receive — well above the national average.

This feedback helped shape a targeted action plan to improve key services, while communication was strengthened through four editions of our online tenants’ magazine, Tendring Reports - posted out to all tenants - and the launch of a dedicated Housing Facebook page.

Across the district, officers and volunteers supported tenants through referrals to frontline services, estate walkabouts, sheltered housing meetings, community events and more than 700 tenancy check visits have been undertaken helping us to get to know our tenants.

Councillor Andy Baker, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, said: “Tenant involvement is at the heart of how we deliver housing services in Tendring – and we welcome all tenants and leaseholders who want to help shape our housing services.

“We want every tenant to feel confident that their voice matters. Residents’ feedback has driven real change — from better communication to more targeted support.

“We are proud that we have retained our own council housing at a time when many authorities have not, and as the largest provider of social housing in Tendring, we take our responsibility seriously.

“We are committed to delivering the best services we can — and when residents tell us what’s working and what needs to improve, we listen and act.”

Tenants and leaseholders who want to help shape our housing services are invited to complete a short online application form. You can choose how you’d like to get involved — whether by taking part in surveys, joining our Tenant Panel, or sharing feedback on the topics that matter most to you.

Once you’ve submitted the form, a member of the team will get in touch to discuss next steps and answer any questions. To get involved, go to https://tendring-self.achieveservice.com/en/service/Customer_Involvement_Register.

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