Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) tenants were out in force when the Association took to the road for a Summer Roadshow across the region.

SBHA teams visited six venues across the Borders, including Peebles, Selkirk, Galashiels, Kelso, Jedburgh and Hawick, to meet tenants and listen to their views and suggestions on the future services SBHA provides. Topics ranged from SBHA’s allocations policy to tenant participation.

Tenants were invited to come along for bacon rolls in the mornings in Peebles and Kelso, afternoon tea in Selkirk and Jedburgh and fish suppers in Galashiels and Hawick. Around 120 tenants in total came along to the various events.

Through a range of activities, tenants were able to consider how they can influence decisions, and gave their ideas on how the Association might encourage more tenants to get involved. They also looked into how the allocations team makes decisions on which property to match with which applicant.

Maria Lyle, director of customer services, said: “Tenant input is vital to SBHA, and we want to maximise Tenants’ opportunities to get involved. Tenants have a right to be involved in their landlord’s decision-making process, and we appreciate that it’s not always easy for people to travel or to find the time.

“We thought the roadshows would be a fun, relaxed way for tenants to meet with us at a time and place that suits them, bringing services to our customers and giving them the opportunity to share their opinions with us.

“There were some specific issues that we wanted to get feedback on, but it also provided an opportunity for Tenants simply to come along, meet staff and have a chat.”

The workshops were facilitated by Lesley Baird of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Scotland, which promotes good practice in Tenant participation.

Lesley said: “It was great being a part of SBHA on the road. SBHA recognised and addressed the fact that tenants live across a wide area. While some landlords expect tenants to go to them, SBHA visited tenants where they live. There were 6 events across the area, all were well attended, with over 120 Tenants taking part, and they were pleased to have the chance to speak to their landlord in their locality.

“There was a great buzz at all the events, with tenants getting involved in discussions from tenant participation and allocations to governance. There were plenty members of the SBHA team around to chat informally to tenants if they had any particular issues. Well done SBHA! I hope I get invited to the next round!”

Tenant Helen Graham, who attended the Hawick session, said: “It was very interesting, very enjoyable and full of useful information. Everyone was very down-to-earth - the team did a great job.”

SBHA thanked everyone who attended to the roadshows and helped to make them such a success, helping to influence and shape future services.