Langstane Housing Association’s ‘My Voice Counts’ tenant scrutiny group have been awarded a Lord Provost Volunteering Certificate.
This nomination reflects the outstanding volunteering and truly valuable work that the group do, and they were delighted to be nominated.
Group member Annie and Tenant Participation Officer Samantha attended the civic reception on Wednesday 28 October at the Town House. Pictured is Annie receiving the certificate from the Lord Provost.
NETRALT joined local charities and support services to promote tenant participation, answer housing-related questions and build connections across the third sector.
Empower is Aberdeen’s largest community support event, offering free, face-to-face access to around 60 local charities and support services, all under one roof. The event is a valuable opportunity for people to find advice, discover available support and connect directly with organisations working to make a positive difference in their lives.
At NETRALT, we believe tenants should have opportunities to share their views, influence decisions and play an active role in shaping the housing services that affect them. Events like Empower provide an important opportunity to explain what tenant participation means in practice, discuss housing concerns and help people understand how their voices can be heard.
As well as engaging with members of the public, Empower Aberdeen was an excellent networking opportunity, bringing together organisations from across the third sector. Meeting other charities and support services allowed us to learn more about the work taking place across Aberdeen, exchange ideas and strengthen connections with organisations that share a commitment to supporting local people.
Thank you to the organisers for bringing the community together and helping people access support under one roof!
NETRALT is pleased to announce the appointment of William Rae as its new Chair, marking an important milestone for the group.
William’s appointment is particularly significant as he becomes the first tenant to serve as Chair of NETRALT. As a Langstane Housing Association tenant, William brings valuable experience and enthusiasm to ensuring tenants’ voices are heard. Throughout his involvement in tenant participation and the wider community, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to representing tenants’ views, engaging with housing providers and helping to improve services for residents. His experience working with tenant groups and housing organisations has given him valuable insight into the issues that matter most to tenants and communities.
This appointment reflects the core principles of tenant participation. NETRALT exists to promote meaningful tenant involvement, and having a tenant lead the organisation demonstrates the importance of tenants being at the heart of decision-making and influencing change.
William said,
“NETRALT is about making sure tenants and residents have a real voice and are listened to. As Chair, I want us to work together with tenants, residents, landlords and our communities to improve housing, share good practice and make positive changes that benefit everyone across the North East of Scotland.”
NETRALT would like to thank Catherine and Katie for their commitment and contribution as Co-Chairs over the past five years and looks forward to continuing to benefit from their experience and support as active members. The group is excited to enter this new chapter and continue its work promoting strong tenant voices across the North East.
NETRALT welcomed staff and tenants from Angus Housing Association for the second study visit, this time hosted by Langstane Housing Association in Aberdeen.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to connect, share experiences and learn from one another.Through presentations and group discussions, we explored different approaches to involving tenants in decision-making and the opportunities and challenges of participation in both digital and face-to-face settings.
The visit continued NETRALT’s commitment to encouraging collaboration, sharing knowledge and learning from good practice across the sector.
Thank you to Langstane Housing Association for hosting the group and to everyone who took part.
NETRALT returned to the Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust’s Community Hub at Pittodrie Stadium, continuing our commitment to raising awareness of tenant participation and engaging with communities across the north east.
Reps from Castlehill Housing Association, Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council were there on behalf of NETRALT, speaking with local residents about the importance of getting involved, having a voice and helping to shape housing services.
Community events like these provide a fantastic opportunity to reach people in an informal and welcoming setting, making it easier for conversations about tenant participation to happen. Throughout the day, we met with residents, answered questions about NETRALT and discussed the many ways tenants can influence decisions, share their experiences and become involved in their local communities.
We were able to showcase the benefits of tenant participation and highlight the support available to anyone interested in taking a more active role in shaping the services that matter to them.
The Community Hub continues to be a valuable space for bringing organisations and local people together. By working in partnership and engaging directly with communities, we can raise awareness of tenant participation, encourage new voices to get involved and help ensure that tenants have real opportunities to influence the decisions that affect their homes and neighbourhoods.
A huge thank you to Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust for hosting another successful Community Hub. We always enjoy the opportunity to work alongside our partners, meet members of the community and promote the positive impact that tenant participation can make.
NETRALT’s programme of study visits got off to a fantastic start as members travelled to Angus Housing Association in Arbroath for a day of networking, learning and sharing good practice.
The study visits were developed following feedback from both NETRALT members and Angus Housing Association tenants, who highlighted the value of creating opportunities to connect with others, exchange ideas and explore different approaches to tenant participation.
The first event brought together tenants and housing professionals from across the north east, creating a welcoming space for discussion, collaboration and learning.
Sharing Knowledge and Experience
After a warm welcome from Angus Housing Association, participants took part in an icebreaker before enjoying a varied programme of presentations and Conversation Café sessions.
The presentations covered:
RTOs and How They Work, presented by Colin Stewart, Castlehill Housing Association
Participating in Strategy and Governance, presented by Tracy Noles, Aberdeenshire Council.
Conversation Café discussions gave everyone the opportunity to share experiences and hear different perspectives on:
Estate Walkabouts
Tenant Training and Accreditations
Tenant Scrutiny
The informal format encouraged lively discussion, allowing attendees to learn from one another and take away ideas they can use within their own organisations and communities.
Looking Ahead to Study Visit 2
The second study visit will take place on Friday 21 August 2026 at Langstane Housing Association’s offices on King Street, Aberdeen. Let your tenant participation officer know if you’d like to attend – you’ll be very welcome!
Continuing the Conversation
The enthusiasm shown during the first study visit demonstrated just how valuable it is to bring tenants and housing organisations together to share knowledge, learn from each other and strengthen tenant participation.
We look forward to welcoming Angus HA tenants and staff to Aberdeen in August as we continue building connections, exchanging ideas and supporting meaningful tenant participation in Scotland.
NETRALT was pleased to be involved in a recent visit by Eveline Armour, Chief Executive of TPAS Scotland, as part of TPAS on Tour. The session was hosted by Aberdeenshire Council at Formartine House in Ellon and brought together tenants and professionals to talk all things tenant participation.
Attendees included Tracy and Aelex from Aberdeenshire Council’s Tenant Participation Team, Samantha from Langstane Housing Association and a number of local tenants. The group enjoyed open and engaging discussions about tenant participation, sharing experiences, challenges and examples of good practice.
There was also conversation about the upcoming TPAS Conference, with enthusiasm around opportunities for tenants and staff to get involved and share learning in a national forum.
A memorable moment in the afternoon came from Kevin, a Langstane tenant, who performed a song written especially for TPAS on Tour, bringing humour and energy to the session and highlighting the creative side of tenant participation.
NETRALT would like to thank TPAS Scotland, Eveline Armour, and Aberdeenshire Council for hosting a positive and engaging visit that celebrated the importance of tenants’ voices and collaboration
Yesterday, NETRALT attended the community hub hosted by Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust at Pittodrie Stadium, where we promoted tenant participation and connected with members of the local community. The event took place in the Legends Lounge and offered everyone a free hot lunch, creating a relaxed and friendly environment for everyone who came along.
It was fantastic to see such a great turnout from the community. Many people stopped by our table to chat about housing, ask questions and learn more about how they can get involved in tenant participation. We had lots of positive conversations and enjoyed meeting so many people who are interested in having their voices heard.
We handed out plenty of promotional items, including stationery and our ever-popular NETRALT teddy bears.
The Pittodrie Community Hub provides a warm space where guests can enjoy free hot food and drinks alongside weekly activities such as board games, newspapers, TV and free Wi-Fi. Local organisations are on hand to offer advice and guidance on topics such as housing, energy bills, the cost of living and health and wellbeing.
We’d highly recommend going along if you have the chance. It’s a great way to connect with others and access helpful local support.
NETRALT hosted a tenant participation pop-up stall at Inverurie Service Point on Wednesday 15 October. Representatives from Aberdeenshire Council and Castlehill Housing Association teamed up to highlight the importance of tenant involvement and share opportunities for people to engage in ways that suit their lifestyles. The event offered a friendly space for tenants to learn more about ongoing initiatives and how their voices can shape housing services. Whether you’re new to tenant participation or already involved, there’s always room to contribute and make a difference.
Aberdeenshire Council will continue the conversation with a series of upcoming pop-up stalls across the region. Everyone is welcome – drop by, say hello and discover how you can get involved:
Upcoming Pop-Up Events
Wednesday 12 November – Inverurie Service Point (inside Library), 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Thursday 13 November – Fraserburgh Service Point, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Tuesday 9 December – Peterhead Service Point, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Wednesday 10 December – Inverurie Service Point (inside Library), 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
For more information on tenant participation and future events, keep an eye on our website or speak to your tenant participation/customer engagement officer.
NETRALT members championed tenant participation at Empower Aberdeen, the city’s biggest-ever community support event, held at the iconic Music Hall. Organised by SCARF as part of Challenge Poverty Week, the event brought together over 60 charities and local organisations to offer free, face-to-face support on housing, energy bills, health, employment and more.
Throughout the day, a steady stream of visitors engaged with our team, sparking meaningful conversations around tenant rights, housing issues and community involvement. It was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of NETRALT’s work and connect with a diverse range of residents across Aberdeen.
Our new promotional NETRALT teddy bears were a hit with attendees, adding a fun and friendly touch to an inspiring day of collaboration and support.
Learn more about SCARF, the energy efficiency social enterprise behind this impactful event.
