We are a voluntary group of tenants, whose purpose is to improve through influence and communication, the way that the housing service is provided.

We need the help of more tenants and leaseholders across Mid Suffolk. It is vital that we become a more diverse group, in order to truly represent all tenants and leaseholders of Mid Suffolk District Council. We would like more young people to be come involved in the forum, who attend meetings, conferences, training sessions and work with the housing staff.

It would be great if we could help to set up small groups of residents in the following areas; Needham Market, Eye, Elmswell, Haughley, Stowupland, Bramford and Stowmarket The kind of issues that you could get involved with include setting housing maintenance and improvement priorities, environmental improvements, housing policy changes or improvements, the implementation of a new magazine for tenants, or generally representing other residents in your area through regular meetings or online forums. We currently have a monthly meeting for all tenants at the council offices in Needham Market, but will travel to other areas if there is enough interest.

In the next few months, the way housing is allocated will be changing to a choice based letting system. This is a major change and will involve lots of communication and discussion with people on the housing register, as well as those in social housing who wish to transfer. There will also be an updated tenancy agreement, which is much clearer than the present one. This too will involve a lot of consultation and local meeting/information sessions have been arranged in the following areas; Woolpit, Eye, Bramford and Stowmarket.

The provision of affordable housing is another area the forum are involved with. This is vitally important not just for young people wanting to live independently, but also for older people who may want or need to move to a smaller home in the same location they have lived.

We will include regular updates of meetings we attend.

If you would like further information about becoming involved please contact the Housing department using the details below:
 
Contact Details

Name: Dawn Geeson (Resident Involvement Officer)
Email: dawn.geeson@midsuffolk.gov.uk
Address: Mid Suffolk District Council, Council Offices, 131 High Street, Needham Market, Ipswich, IP6 8DL
Telephone: 01449 724753