Re-imagining Tenant Participation in Scotland: Highlights from the TPAS Scotland Annual Conference 2026
Tenant participation in Scotland has a strong history. Scotland was the first country in the UK to introduce a statutory legal right to tenant participation, and the Scottish Social Housing Charter, introduced in 2012, set out the standards and rights tenants can expect from their landlords.
But while tenant participation has achieved a great deal, the message from the latest TPAS Scotland event was clear: it is time to re-imagine how we involve tenants, strengthen relationships, and make sure more people can have their say.
Tenant participation has changed Scotland for the better
Michael Boal from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Team reflected on the history and value of tenant participation in Scotland. He reminded delegates that tenant action and partnership have helped create better homes, better services, and stronger relationships between tenants and landlords.
The core principles remain as important as ever: empowerment, accountability, trust, fairness, transparency, and service improvement. Tenant participation gives people a direct role in shaping the housing services and communities they rely on.
However, the sector is now facing new challenges. The impact of Covid, the cost-of-living crisis, digital exclusion, changing expectations, and volunteer fatigue all mean that traditional approaches will not work for everyone.
One of the key messages was that tenant participation cannot be a “one size fits all” model. Tenants increasingly want to shape the agenda, co-create solutions, and engage in ways that fit their lives. As Michael Boal said, “We have to recognise tenant participation has been extremely successful across Scotland, but we need to build on it to thrive in the future. We need to work together in genuine partnership and forge trust between tenants, landlords and Scottish Government to ensure tenants have a meaningful role in shaping their houses and services in the future.”
Awaab’s Law: what it means for tenants and landlords in Scotland
Nichelle Gill from the Scottish Government gave an update on responding to damp and mould and what Awaab’s Law will mean in Scotland.
Awaab’s Law is being introduced following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale in 2020, after prolonged exposure to mould in his home. The session highlighted the serious impact damp and mould can have on health and wellbeing, particularly for people who are at greater risk.
From 6 October 2026, landlords in Scotland will be expected to have a competent person identify damp and mould and determine whether repairs are required. Where substantial damp and mould is found, repairs must begin within five working days. Social landlords must complete repairs within a minimum period of 20 working days, after which the right to repair framework will apply.
For tenants, this will provide stronger protection and clearer expectations. The discussion also highlighted the importance of early reporting, clear guidance, and collaboration between tenants and landlords. Delegates raised important points about what guidance should include, including communication, implementation, resources, disclosure of damp and mould before a tenancy begins, rural fuel poverty, and the wider factors that can contribute to damp and mould in people’s homes.
Engaging young people in tenant participation
A major theme throughout the event was the need to involve more young people.
Colin Cassie from Link Group spoke about the challenges of engaging younger tenants, particularly young men under 35 living alone. This group can be difficult to reach, may be reluctant to ask housing officers for help, and is often more likely to engage through digital channels such as text messages, email, apps, and targeted online communication.
The discussion highlighted that young people may see tenant participation as something they only turn to when there is a problem. Others may feel that formal tenant participation is too corporate, too time-consuming, or not relevant to them.
The answer is not to blame young people for not engaging. Instead, landlords and tenant participation professionals need to meet people where they are, use clear language, ask direct questions, and show that their views lead to action.
One of the strongest messages from the event was ‘Young people are not the problem, they are part of the solution’.
Making engagement feel less formal
Delegates shared examples from across Scotland, England and Wales showing how informal, creative engagement can reach people who may never attend a traditional meeting.
Examples included community fun days, cinema events, family photo sessions, school-gate conversations, coffee mornings, and even projecting a giant FIFA game onto the side of a tower block to bring young people together. These examples all had something in common: they took tenant participation to people, rather than expecting people to come to tenant participation.
The conference also explored the value of “menus of opportunity” giving people different ways to get involved without feeling like they are being recruited onto a committee. Digital tools, short surveys, informal conversations, local events, scrutiny projects, and one-off activities can all help tenants dip in and out in a way that works for them.
Trust, communication and partnership
Trust was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Whether the discussion was about damp and mould, young people, scrutiny, rural communities or digital participation, the message was consistent: tenant participation depends on relationships.
Tenants need to know that landlords are listening. Landlords need to communicate clearly and honestly. Housing officers, tenants, councillors, government, regulators and community partners all have a role to play.
Good tenant participation starts locally. As one delegate put it, tenant participation “starts in the close and up the stairs”. It is about everyday conversations, practical feedback, and showing people that their views matter.
Looking ahead
Tenant participation in Scotland has a strong foundation, but the future will require fresh thinking.
The sector must respond to digital exclusion, cost pressures, changing demographics, reduced participation in traditional groups, and the need to involve more diverse voices. It must also continue to support scrutiny, training, recognition, and genuine partnership.
There was a strong call for flexible, creative, collaborative approaches that make tenant participation more accessible and more relevant.
This year’s conference closed with a clear sense of opportunity. Tenant participation has helped shape better housing in Scotland. Now the challenge is to build on that success, widen involvement, and make sure every tenant has a meaningful opportunity to influence the homes, services and communities that matter to them.