Improving the local community
Tenant and resident associations (TRAs) are groups of local people from a housing estate or block of flats, working together to improve their community.
If there isn't a TRA in your area you can set up a new one.
Setting up a new TRA
Some of the advantages of starting a TRA include:
- being recognised as a formal body by the council and housing related services
- having access to all levels of the council
- getting access to grants to support your activities
- joining a District Management Committee (DMC), with access to funding opportunities
- keeping informed about developments on your estate
To set up a new TRA, you will need to:
- have the support of tenants and leaseholders in the area you wish to represent
- write a constitution to govern how your group is run
- make sure that the membership of your group is representative of the area
- have a council-tenant majority on your committee - required for DMC voting in Gospel Oak and Kentish Town
Start-up guidance
A variety of documents are available to help set up your TRA, including:
- model constitution (DOC, 33KB)
- code of conduct (DOC, 32KB)
- equal opportunities statement (PDF, 29KB)
- committee skills information booklet (PDF, 595KB)
- income and expenditure sheet (XLSX, 15KB)
Planning and developing your group
Our quality framework guide (PDF, 21KB) explains how to develop your group, plan activities and assess training needs. The quality framework self-assessment (pdf) (PDF, 84KB) includes questions to help identify your strengths and areas for improvement.
If you achieve a high score, you may wish to share your experiences with other groups. Send your completed self-assessment to the Tenant Participation Team.
Training and capacity building
We can provide a range of training courses and workshops. To find out more, contact the Tenant Participation Team with your requirements.
Financial support
Grants are available to help with running costs. Read the grants information (PDF, 75KB) and application forms for:
- start-up grants (DOC, 71KB)
- revenue grants (DOC, 82KB)
- special projects (DOC, 76KB)
- computer loans (DOC, 96KB)
Funding is also available from your local DMC.
Registering your TRA
By registering your TRA, you will receive formal recognition from the council and your local District Management Committee (DMC), and benefit from engagement and funding opportunities.
You can also contact the Tenant Participation Team or your neighbourhood housing officer for advice.