I didn’t realise ForHousing covered so many areas!

One thing I didn’t know before joining the group is that ForHousing isn’t just Salford-based, they also work in Knowsley, Oldham, Fylde, and Cheshire West and Chester. It really opened my eyes to how big the organisation is.

At this meeting, we reviewed how Wates are performing so far. We were able to ask questions directly to the representative who manages the contract and discussed what improvements were being put in place where standards weren’t being met. We also spoke with the representative for gas services, who explained the standards and improvements in a way that was easy to understand.

We had a presentation on the capital spend planned for the next financial year, which was really interesting. I appreciated that everything was explained clearly, and we could ask questions about anything we didn’t understand. Finally, we looked at upcoming meetings and added them to our diaries, it feels good to be part of planning what’s next.

Scary at first, but eye-opening — they really do listen. 

This was a big moment for me, attending the Co-Regulatory Event with the Board. Honestly, I was terrified at first! I imagined walking into a room full of people like Alan Sugar from The Apprentice, all suits and stern faces. But it wasn’t like that at all. They were just ordinary people, genuinely interested in hearing from us. 

What surprised me most was how much they wanted to champion tenant voice. It wasn’t just talk, they listened and asked questions about how we can work together. We even discussed the challenges they face as an organisation, which helped me understand their side too. 

I gave a short presentation about our group’s vision and what we’ve achieved so far. Standing there, speaking to the Board, was way out of my comfort zone, but I did it! I felt proud of myself for pushing through the nerves. 

Another thing that stood out was the diversity in the room, people from different areas and backgrounds all coming together. It made me think about how important representation is. For example, in Eccles, we don’t see much involvement from the Asian community, and I’d love to help change that, so everyone feels included. 

Walking away from that event, I felt inspired. It showed me that when tenants speak up, people listen — and real change can happen. 

I became Vice Chair — a big step, but I’m proud. 

I was elected Vice Chair of the group! Honestly, I never imagined I’d take on a role like this. It’s given me confidence and a chance to help others feel comfortable speaking up too. We also discussed how repairs are getting quicker and how ForHousing is trialling faster responses for serious damp and mould issues. It feels like we’re making a real difference. 

Our feedback is making real changes happen. 

We heard about the new repairs system coming later this year, which will let tenants book and track appointments themselves. Satisfaction was already improving, up to 87%. We also discussed damp and mould and how ForHousing is getting ready for Awaab’s Law. I even expressed interest in helping with grounds maintenance inspections. It’s great to see action being taken based on what tenants say. 

Starting to feel comfortable and ready to get stuck in. 

By this meeting, I wasn’t as nervous as before — I felt more at ease and ready to contribute. We agreed the group’s Terms of Reference and talked about big changes coming with the Wates contract, like new systems and better communication. I raised an issue about out-of-hours service, something I’d struggled with myself, and it was taken seriously. We also learned about Awaab’s Law and how ForHousing is preparing to respond quickly to damp and mould. It was reassuring to see action being planned and to know my voice mattered.

I felt excited, seeing how my voice had power to make a difference and make positive changes for everyone. Not just me, my neighbours and other ForHousing neighbourhoods.

Daunting at first, but I felt welcome straight away. 

This was the start of my journey. Walking into that room for the first time felt strange. I didn’t know what to expect. Everyone was friendly and made me feel relaxed. We talked about repairs and the challenges with multi-trade jobs not being programmed properly, which was eye-opening. Before Wates came on board, we looked at their background and reputation, and I shared my thoughts. It was clear that tenant voice matters here, they really want to listen and learn. That gave me confidence to keep going. 

I knew I made the right choice in joining. Not only will I be able to keep my mind active now retired, but I’m also making a difference while doing it.  

“I left the first meeting feeling really optimistic.” 

Joining the Repairs and Maintenance Excellence Group made me realise just how much ForHousing values the tenant point of view. That’s what encouraged me to get involved and become a Tenant and Customer Reviewer too. 

A Tenant and Customer Reviewer is someone who helps ForHousing improve services by trying services, inspecting what they do, and giving our honest feedback on the experience. Some people call it mystery shopping. 

And that is why I joined. Helping make sure our voices are heard is important, especially when we’re trying to work with ForHousing to improve our experience. This role covers so many different areas, and I’m looking forward to looking at the whole picture as well as the repairs and maintenance side. 

After attending the first meeting, I left feeling optimistic. I think this group has real potential to drive change, especially when it comes to communication with tenants. I also really liked that you don’t have to attend every meeting in person. Some reviews are simply checking that documents are easy to read, which can be done over email. It makes getting involved much easier and more flexible. 

We are meeting again around March, so I will keep you posted on how it goes. I’m looking forward to reviewing the first section of the website too. 

“It was a fully inclusive day and talking to members of the group afterwards everyone felt listened to and included.” 

The Away Day was held in a lovely venue. The day involved looking at various areas including: 

• The impact tenant involvement groups make 
• Elevate360, a new way of designing housing services 
• Communication and complaints 
• How ForHousing is using our feedback to make continuous improvement plans 

This helped me understand where ForHousing had little or no control, the areas that could be improved, and how our feedback is making a real difference. 

It was a fully inclusive day and, after speaking with other members of the involved tenant groups, it was clear that everyone felt listened to and included. I felt the same. I think this day will help involved tenants understand the role they can play in improving the services ForHousing provides, which can only have a positive impact on both existing and new tenants. 

What stood out most for me is that ForHousing are serious about making our experience the best they can for all of us. They know they don’t always get things right, but they are trying to be better. 

Toria, the Head of Community and Tenant Involvement, wrote a blog all about the day if you would like to read more.

“Being part of these discussions makes me feel hopeful.” 

The meeting went really well, and we covered quite a lot. We looked at: 

• A new repairs system 
• How the Planned Works section of the website could be improved 
• The new Void (empty home) Standards 
• Gas servicing 

The area I’m most interested in is Planned Works. These are the larger jobs, things like kitchens and bathrooms, and I think this is where we can feel the most frustration if communication isn’t clear. 

Being part of these discussions makes me feel hopeful. It shows that our feedback is genuinely shaping how services develop, and I’m looking forward to being more involved as things progress. I will keep you all posted.