The independent federation of Leeds tenants and residents

Room 0, Westminster Buildings, 31 New York Street, Leeds LS2 7DT.

Tel (0113) 2145330.

Email: tenants@leeds.gov.uk.

Website: www.leedstenants.org.uk

Evaluation of the Meet ’n’ Greet initiative – tenant involvement in Lettings

Summary

The Meet ’n’ Greet initiative involves trained tenants representatives welcoming prospective tenants at accompanied viewing. Evaluation of pilot projects with Leeds South Homes and Leeds Federated Housing Association suggests that the Meet ’n’ Greet initiative can help reduce hard-to-let properties and improve community sustainability. Leeds Tenants Federation is now inviting interest from ALMOs and Housing Associations in establishing a series of Meet ’n’ Greet initiatives across the city.

Background

In summer 2005, Leeds Tenants Federation hosted a meeting of ALMO and Housing Association Lettings Officers to launch an initiative aimed at increasing resident involvement in the Lettings process and creating sustainable communities.

The Meet ’n’ Greet initiative involves trained tenants representatives welcoming prospective tenants at accompanied viewing. Their role is to give an introduction to the neighbourhood, its facilities and services and to point out expected standards of conduct.

This initiative is unique in Leeds in that it takes place at accompanied viewing with prospective tenants. It is based on an established scheme in Manchester and has been approved by the Leeds Homes team. It does not involve tenants in any form of selection or vetting applications in any way.

The Meet ‘n’ Greet process

Training for participants is carried out by Leeds Tenants Federation with support from the Leeds Homes team. This training covers the Council’s Lettings Policies, the operation of Choice Base Lettings and the demand for social housing in Leeds.

The trained participants sign a declaration of their commitment to issues of equality and confidentiality. A notice of the Meet’n’Greet is sent to prospective tenants who are given an opportunity to opt out of the scheme. A feedback form is distributed at the time of new tenancy visit to capture any complaints or problematic issues.

Evaluation of Pilot Schemes

The initiative has been piloted with Leeds South Homes in one estate in the Morley lettings area. During this six month pilot, a trained tenant representative attended four accompanied viewings.

In evaluation interviews, the Morley Team Leader, Sharon Rhodes, and the tenant representative, Jean Lancaster felt the Meet ’n’ Greet initiative had improved the lettability and cohesion of the estate. They attributed a successful letting of a previously hard to let flat to the Meet ’n’ Greet scheme and reported that two of the new tenants welcomed by the tenant representative had subsequently become involved in the residents association.

Morley Lettings Area Pilot Project
Estate	Elmfield and Bridge Street
Council Properties	109
Number of Meet’n’Greet accompanied viewings	4
Evaluated outcomes	1 successful letting of previously hard-to-let property 2 new tenants now involved in residents association

Leeds Tenants Federation has also worked with Leeds Federated Housing Association to relaunch its Lettings Compacts, along the principles of the Meet ’n’ Greet initiative. Participants in the Linden Gardens Lettings Compact reported that meeting prospective tenants at accompanied viewing had enable them to establish lines of communication which had encouraged neighbourly behaviour.

Based on the evaluation of these pilots, Leeds Tenants Federation is now promoting the Meet ’n’ Greet more widely and will be holding training sessions for interested residents in September 2006.

For more information contact Quintin Bradley on Tel (0113) 2145330 or email quintin.bradley@leeds.gov.uk