Shaping a Collective Tenant Voice: Key Reflections from January’s Voice Session
- Jan 13
- 1 min read
On 28 January 2025, Foundational Alliance Wales brought tenants and sector partners together to continue the conversation on building a strong, collective tenant voice across Wales.
Discussions focused on the need for any future tenant-led initiative to be dynamic, inclusive, and genuinely independent. Participants highlighted the importance of avoiding overly complex governance structures that risk draining energy and momentum, and instead starting with a clear purpose: letting form follow function.
Communication emerged as a key challenge. Dense, jargon-heavy language continues to create barriers to engagement, particularly for younger tenants aged 18–25 and those from diverse backgrounds and communities. The session also challenged the idea of tenant apathy, noting that a lack of feedback does not mean a lack of issues - often, tenants simply don’t feel heard.
The group explored practical questions around representation and inclusivity, including who should be part of a national tenant voice and how a truly collective and representative model could work across council, housing association, and private rented sectors.
Next steps focus on bringing tenants together in person, developing a clear manifesto before structure, securing funding with no influence attached, and growing networks through community organising, partnerships, and social media.
👉 Read the full notes from the 28 January Voice Session here
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