Over 90% of tenants believe their organisation is not doing enough to attract tenants from ethnic minority groups into its influencing structures.

In a report titled ‘Is There a Seat at the Table? Ethnic Minority Voices in Tenant Engagement’, produced by tenant engagement expert Tpas and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE), over 50% of housing staff reported that their organisations lacked specific structures to attract tenants from ethnic minority groups to take part in tenant influencing structures.

Based on data from over 350 tenants and housing staff, roughly 54% revealed that the ‘ethnic makeup of the overall tenant base’ was not reflected in the organisation’s tenant influencing structures.

Among the issues listed, the report found that representation and diverse recruitment was lacking, alongside barriers relating to engagement styles and strategies.

The report also noted the insufficient number of senior staff who are skilled at supporting racially minoritised groups and speakers of other languages.

According to the author of the report and Tpas Associate Kai Jackson, the findings reveal ‘significant barriers to engagement, trust, and inclusivity faced by ethnic minority tenants in social housing’.

Within its recommendations, the report advises improving communication strategies, enhancing cultural competency and staff knowledge, developing data collection, strengthening funding and resources, addressing systemic engagement barriers and reviewing progress regularly.

The report also recommends that landlords incorporate the T.A.B.L.E. framework (Tailored Training, Actively Engaging Communities, Bringing Everyone into the Conversation, Listening to Voices, Ethnic Minorities) to ensure more effective and inclusive engagement.

Supported by the Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, the report has been described by Florence Eshalomi MP as a proposed ‘starting point for changing the culture and stigma around social housing’.