The Scottish Housing Regulator has published its new plans for continuing to involve tenants and service users in its work.

According to the plans, the Regulator will use a variety of initiatives, many of which build on existing activities, to help it understand tenants’ and service users’ views. It will continue to work with its National Panel of Tenants and Service Users.

Established in 2013, the Panel now has almost 500 members and lets the Regulator hear directly about the views and priorities of a diverse range of tenants and others.

Continuing to engage with tenant representatives will also be a key part of the Regulator’s work. It will do this through its Registered Tenant Organisations’ liaison group and the nine Regional Networks. It will also speak with bodies who work on service users’ behalf.

The Regulator will also involve tenants and others in its regulation activities, bringing a direct service user perspective. Building on the work of its tenant assessors, it will shortly begin working with its new pool of independent, volunteer tenant advisors. Tenant advisors will speak directly to tenants and test landlords’ services.

Iain Muirhead, the Regulator’s director of strategy and communications, said: “Our plans for the next two years build on our work since 2012. We’re very grateful to all the tenants and service users who have taken the time to contribute to our work. That includes tenant organisations, members of our National Panel and tenant assessors. It’s important that we understand their perspectives and priorities. And involving tenants and service users directly in our regulation helps make sure we stay focused on the issues that matter most to them.”

The Regulator’s publication ‘How we involve tenants and service users in our work’ is now available on its website www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk.