Resident Engagement

The Tenant and Leaseholder Forum is our highest level of resident engagement, where tenants and leaseholders meet with senior housing officers to scrutinise performance, shape services and influence future priorities.

The Forum meets monthly, giving residents regular opportunities to:
•    Review how housing services are performing
•    Discuss key issues such as repairs, building safety, estate improvements and community priorities
•    Help shape housing policies and long-term plans
•    Hold the Council to account for delivering on commitments

Any tenant or leaseholder can put themselves forward to join the Forum. It is an open and constructive space for residents to challenge, question and work with us to make a positive difference. 

Read the Tenant and Leaseholder Forum - Terms of Reference [PDF]

• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 25.06.2026 ( pdf - 137.83 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 30.04.2026 ( pdf - 224.40 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 26.02.2026 ( pdf - 206.64 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 09.12.2025 ( pdf - 207.03 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 07.10.2025 ( pdf - 162.10 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 31.07.2025 ( pdf - 93.21 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 26.06.2025 ( pdf - 128.66 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 29.05.2025 ( pdf - 229.39 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 24.04.2025 ( pdf - 215.08 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 27.03.2025 ( pdf - 214.26 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 27.02.2025 ( pdf - 140.33 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 16.01.2025 ( pdf - 164.33 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 28.11.2024 ( pdf - 176.39 KB )
• Minutes of Tenant and Leaseholder Forum 24.10.2024 ( pdf - 158.99 KB )

We recently reviewed our Draft Asset Management Strategy, focusing on effective communication and customer voice, and key priorities like safety, sustainability, and modern repairs. 

Feedback highlighted the need to prioritise respect and safety, which will be central to the final strategy as we align our plans with tenant expectations.

The Estate Improvement Group works with residents to deliver projects that make estates safer, cleaner, and better places to live.
Neighbourhood Improvement Plans are being rolled out across the district, starting with Cotlandswick in 2024/25. Each plan is a living document, co-designed with residents and councillors to reflect local priorities. Plans are formally updated on a quarterly basis, with progress published at the end of each quarter so that outcomes can be tracked openly and transparently.

Each plan focuses on four core themes:
•    Community safety and tackling anti-social behaviour
•    Green spaces and shared areas
•    Repairs and maintenance priorities
•    Engagement and clear communication

Quarterly updates include:
•    Completed actions
•    New priorities raised by residents
•    Plans for the next quarter

Resident Focus Groups will ensure that each plan continues to reflect local needs. These groups bring residents, councillors, and housing officers together to review progress, agree priorities, and shape future investment in their neighbourhoods.

View the latest Neighbourhood Improvement Plan [PDF/link]

Get Involved

To join a Resident Focus Group or find out more, please contact the Resident Engagement Team at residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk.

Join us for Community Afternoons and The Big Door Knock in 2026

Our 2026 resident engagement programme brings residents, council teams, contractors and partner organisations together to strengthen neighbourhood connections, listen to feedback and respond to local priorities.

The programme includes traditional Community Afternoon events and two Big Door Knock events, where we will take our services directly into neighbourhoods and speak with residents at their homes.

These events support our work under the Tenant Satisfaction Measures, particularly around respectful engagement, safe neighbourhoods and effective communication.

They are designed to:

• Provide direct access to council officers for housing and neighbourhood queries.
• Give residents an opportunity to raise concerns and share feedback.
• Help identify outstanding repairs, damp and mould, antisocial behaviour and neighbourhood issues.
• Offer practical advice and signposting to council and partner services.
• Promote opportunities for residents to get involved and help shape housing services.
• Strengthen relationships between residents and the people who provide their services.

2026 programme

London Colney Community Afternoon
Wednesday 20 May 2026
3.00pm–6.00pm

Caledon Community Centre
Caledon Road
London Colney
AL2 1PU

Harpenden East Community Afternoon
Wednesday 17 June 2026
3.00pm–5.30pm

Harpenden Trust Centre
90 Southdown Road
Harpenden
AL5 1PS

Batchwood Community Afternoon
Wednesday 15 July 2026
3.00pm–6.00pm

Christ Church St Albans
High Oaks
St Albans
AL3 6DJ

The Big Door Knock – Redbourn
Wednesday 16 September 2026
3.00pm–5.00pm

The planned Redbourn Community Afternoon will be delivered as The Big Door Knock.

Instead of holding a traditional drop-in event at one venue, council colleagues, contractors and partner organisations will work in small teams and visit tenants and leaseholders in their neighbourhoods.

Residents will be able to speak to us about:

• Outstanding repairs or housing concerns.
• Damp and mould.
• Antisocial behaviour.
• Communal areas and neighbourhood services.
• Support they may need.
• Ideas for improving our services.
• Opportunities to get involved.

Residents can request a doorstep visit in advance by emailing residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk with their name, address, contact details and brief information about what they would like to discuss.

All staff taking part will carry council or organisational identification. Residents do not have to invite anyone into their home and can speak to the team at their doorstep.

The Big Door Knock – Sandridge
Wednesday 21 October 2026
3.00pm–5.00pm

The planned Sandridge Community Afternoon will be delivered as The Big Door Knock.

Instead of holding a traditional drop-in event at one venue, council colleagues, contractors and partner organisations will work in small teams and visit tenants and leaseholders in their neighbourhoods.

Residents will be able to speak to us about:

• Outstanding repairs or housing concerns.
• Damp and mould.
• Antisocial behaviour.
• Communal areas and neighbourhood services.
• Support they may need.
• Ideas for improving our services.
• Opportunities to get involved.

Residents can request a doorstep visit in advance by emailing residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk with their name, address, contact details and brief information about what they would like to discuss.

All staff taking part will carry council or organisational identification. Residents do not have to invite anyone into their home and can speak to the team at their doorstep.

Sopwell Community Afternoon
Wednesday 18 November 2026
3.00pm–6.00pm

Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre
Old Oak
Cottonmill Lane
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 2EF

Further details about the activities, services and partner organisations attending will be published nearer the event.

Working with our partners

Our engagement programme is coordinated with council services, contractors and partner organisations, including Hertfordshire Constabulary, Morgan Sindall and local voluntary and community organisations.

The organisations attending may vary between events.

Share your views

Residents can continue to share feedback and raise issues through the Tenant and Leaseholder Forum and other local engagement activities throughout the year.

To receive updates about future resident engagement opportunities, contact: residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk

We are now recruiting for our service improvement Focus Group

Our focus groups bring residents together to review and improve specific aspects of our housing services.
Themes are chosen based on resident feedback and the results of the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs), ensuring we address the areas that matter most to you.

At St Albans City & District Council, we know residents often experience our services differently to how we deliver them. That insight is incredibly valuable.

 Our Service Improvement Focus Group gives residents a direct role in shaping services, challenging performance, and influencing decisions at a senior level.

 You will work alongside the Resident Engagement Team and senior managers to review performance, highlight issues, and help drive real improvements.

 Importantly, your feedback will be formally reported to the Housing Inclusion Committee, ensuring it is considered at the highest level.

What will you do?

As a member, you will:
• Help shape and improve housing services
• Review performance and highlight areas for improvement
• Challenge the council constructively where needed
• Identify good practice and support positive change
• Ensure resident voices are central to decision-making

What commitment is required?

This is our highest level of resident engagement, so we are looking for people who can commit to the role and take an active part.

You will be expected to:
• Attend 6 meetings per year
• Prepare in advance by reading papers and reviewing information
• Take part in discussions and offer your views
• Be willing to ask questions and challenge constructively

You don’t need prior experience—we will support you—but you do need to be willing to engage and contribute.

Our commitment to you

We will support you every step of the way by:
• Providing training and development (including opportunities through TPAS – Tenant Participation Advisory Service)
• Sharing clear and transparent information
• Listening to your feedback and acting on it
• Showing how your input has made a difference

All sessions are paid (£10 shopping voucher per session), and we will cover any related costs.

Your feedback from these sessions directly shapes improvements, with progress reported in our You Said, We Did updates.

We regularly hold new focus groups and welcome residents to take part. If you are interested, email residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk.

See our Tenant satisfaction measure results 

Recognised Resident Associations
 

We encourage residents to form local associations that work for the benefit of their community.
Associations can apply for formal recognition by the Council. Recognised groups receive:
•    Support from council officers
•    Up to £100 per year in funding (subject to meeting certain criteria)
Recognition strengthens your group’s voice on local issues, helps influence improvements, and builds stronger neighbourhood connections.

Download the Resident Association Guide below:

• Resident Association Guide ( pdf - 318.87 KB )

This network is specifically for Council staff who are also tenants or leaseholders.

It provides a dedicated platform to share insights, feedback, and ideas about housing services, ensuring your unique perspective as both an employee and a resident is heard and acted upon.
Members can:
•    Influence service improvements through regular discussions and feedback opportunities
•    Preview and comment on key housing materials before they are finalised
•    Collaborate with colleagues to shape the future of housing services

The network offers a relaxed, supportive environment that values both your professional expertise and lived experience as a resident. Feedback from this group also feeds into our wider engagement activities to strengthen services for all tenants and leaseholders.

Read the summary of our most recent meeting. (All personal details have been removed to protect privacy.)

• Tenant and Leaseholder Staff Network ( pdf - 154.63 KB )

At St Albans City & District Council, we believe resident feedback is essential to delivering housing services that meet your needs. We listen, act, and report back so you can see exactly how your input shapes the way we work.

This section is updated quarterly, giving you a clear and transparent view of our progress.

Read the full report here:

• You Said We Did ( pdf - 43.22 KB )

We want to be transparent about how we deliver our housing services and welcome resident scrutiny of our performance. We offer a variety of opportunities for this to happen.  For example:

• Publication of our  Housing Times Annual Summary  
• Reporting to our Tenant and Leaseholder Forum, which all tenants and leaseholders are welcome to attend. You can find out more on our Resident Engagement webpage  
• Through topic-based focus groups which we advertise by email, text, and in our Housing Times Newsletter available on our website.  Or we can provide a paper copy of Housing Times on request.

We also encourage residents to share feedback directly. If you would like to share feedback or talk to us about getting involved, please email residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.

We provide our performance data to Housing and Inclusion Committee members each quarter for councillors to consider and scrutinise. You can find out when these committee meetings take place here including how to watch them online or attend in person.  

We want tenants to have the same opportunity to scrutinise our services.  Please use the links at the bottom of the page to review the performance reports we provide to our Councillors. 

Housing and Inclusion Committee Reports

Published every quarter, our Tenant & Leaseholder Newsletter keeps you informed about housing services, community events, good news stories, and how we’re responding to your feedback.

Stay up to date on upcoming changes, opportunities to get involved, and the positive impact residents are making in their neighbourhoods.

Latest editions:

July - September 2026 Newsletter

April - June 2026 Newsletter

January - March 2026 Newsletter

October - December 2025 Newsletter

July - September 2025 Newsletter

April - June 2025 Newsletter

January - March 2025 Newsletter

This page brings together the latest news and important information for tenants and leaseholders of St Albans City and District Council.

Here you’ll find updates about housing services, inspections, national policy changes, and other matters that may affect you as a tenant. We’ll also share details of how you can stay informed, get involved, and have your say.

Check this page regularly for the most up-to-date information.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR): Information for Tenants

Councils in Hertfordshire, including St Albans City and District Council, are currently exploring possible changes to how local services are organised and delivered.

A letter has been sent to all Council tenants to explain what this means, confirm that tenancies remain secure, and outline how residents will be kept informed as discussions progress.

Read the full tenant letter

• LGR letter to all tenants - Nov 2025 ( pdf - 205.51 KB )