Summary of results from the Big Tenant Group Survey 2004

Summary of results from the Big Tenant Group Survey 2004

 

 

These are the results from the seventh annual survey of Registered Tenants Groups in Leeds, sent out in February 2004 by Leeds Tenants Federation (TIC).

 

1.0    Rate of return

 

68% of groups returned the survey, compared to 63% in 2002/03 and 56% in 2001.

 

2.0    Registration and funding

 

88% of groups find it very easy or easy to register their group, compared to 94% in 2002/03.

 

Satisfaction with grant levels has risen slightly.  68% of groups now think grants are generous or sufficient, compared to 60% last year. However, in two ALMO areas 50% of groups do not feel the grant levels are enough.

 

Only 28% of groups get funding from other sources – the highest number being in Leeds South.  The most common source of funding was councillor’s MICE money and the CIT priorities budget. Groups raise their own finance through raffles and social occasions while a minority have accessed grants from Neighbourhood Renewal, charities and trusts.

 

Tenants and residents associations run a wide range of funded community projects, including environmental improvements, arts and crafts or computer classes, sports, and cultural and social activities aimed at elderly or young people.

 

3.0    Satisfaction with services from Leeds Tenants Federation (TIC)

 

85% of groups are happy or satisfied with the service their group gets from Leeds Tenants Federation (TIC).

 

81% think our quarterly magazine Home at Leeds is excellent or interesting, compared to 52.6% in 2002/03 and 45.9% for “Housing Leeds” in 2001.

 

73% of groups have contacted us for advice or support

 

65% of groups have been to our quarterly general meetings and another 19% plan to in the future

 

59% have invited us to speak at their meetings

 

28% of groups have used our new newsletter design and copy service (launched in November 2003) and a further 40% plan to in future.

 

4.0    Satisfaction with tenant involvement in the ALMOs

 

This is the first overall survey of tenant involvement since the ALMOs began in February 2003 so there is little comparative information. Overall the picture is extremely positive, with fairly high satisfaction levels in each ALMO. The responses highlight three main areas for improvement.

 

73% of groups are in at least 3 monthly contact with their Tenant Involvement Officer, compared to 75% in 2002/03.  15% of groups said they did not know who the Tenant Involvement Officer for their area was (recognition was lowest in Leeds North East homes and Leeds South homes).

 

71% of groups are satisfied with the support their get from their Housing Office and 76% of groups have housing staff regularly attending their meetings.

 

64% of groups are satisfied that their ALMO listens to their views and takes them on board and 50% are satisfied that their group has the opportunities to change and improve the housing service. Groups in Leeds South East homes were the most satisfied with overall involvement. Groups in Leeds North West homes, Leeds East and Leeds West homes were all cautious about their ability to influence change in their housing service and a third of groups in Leeds North East appear unconvinced.

 

Estate walkabouts – where representatives from the tenants group are invited to go on accompanied inspections with housing staff – do not appear to be taking place with any regularity in Leeds North West homes and Leeds South East homes. Leeds North East appears to be doing walkabouts most regularly with Leeds East supplying this service to most groups. Leeds South and Leeds West homes also seem to offer this service to a minority of groups.  Not all groups involved in walkabouts receive written feedback on action from their housing office.

 

Satisfaction with tenant involvement in the investment programme and the repairs service is comparatively low. 44% of groups are dissatisfied with their opportunities for involvement in planning investment and improvements. 47% of groups are not satisfied with their involvement in the repairs service. Only in Leeds West homes area are the majority of groups satisfied with their influence with the repairs service.

 

 

4.0    Satisfaction with other agencies

 

Around 70% of groups are keen to work with other agencies – including the Police, the Community Safety Partnership and council departments such as Streetscene services and Parks and Countrysides.  However 34% of groups have encountered problems getting a satisfactory response from these agencies. Dissatisfaction is particularly high with the response from the Police, while problems with Highways, Refuse and the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit were all noted.

 

Elected members strongly support tenants and residents associations.  68% of groups regularly invite councillors to attend their meetings and praised the commitment of their ward members.

 

5.0    Participation in tenants and residents groups

 

56% of tenants and residents groups advertise and hold quarterly or more frequent public meetings and 58% of groups get between 20 and 50 people regularly attending.

 

53% of groups hold monthly committee meetings (26% hold committee meetings every two months) and the average committee size is between 5-10 people.

 

54% of groups hold social events and activities in their area, including fun days and trips, games nights and coffee mornings, special events for elderly people and celebrations at Christmas, Easter and Bonfire Night.

 

6.0    Newsletters

 

Tenants and residents groups publish and distribute an average of 4 newsletters a year to the households in their area (4 in 2002; 3 in 2001).

 

7.0    Hard to reach involvement

 

18% of committee members are under the age of 40 and 7% are under the age of 25.  50% of committee members are over the age of 60.

 

12% of committee members are from Black and Minority Ethnic groups (compared to 2.4% in 2002/03 and 4.5% in 2001).

 

 

 

 

 

Leeds Tenants Federation (TIC) April 2004