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Scutiny group member Annie collects certificate from Lord Provosot in Aberdeen's Town House

Langstane Tenant Scrutiny Group receives Lord Provost Award

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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.

To read more about the Lord Provost Volunteering Certificate click this link Lord Provost Volunteering Certificate.

To read about the work of the scrutiny group please use this link to visit their webpage Tenant Scrutiny Group.

NETRALT members standing at their stall at Empower event

Empower Aberdeen 2026

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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!

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NETRALT Appoints First Tenant Chair

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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.

Study visit NETRALT & ANGUS 210826 4

Sharing Knowledge and Good Practice

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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.

AHA study visit 2

NETRALT Study Visits begin with Angus HA in Arbroath

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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.

3 NETRALT colleagues standing outside Formartine House

NETRALT welcomes TPAS on Tour

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NETRALT members smiling, sitting round a table.

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

NETRALT members chatting to people at Pittodrie

Community connections at Pittodrie

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NETRALT members chatting to people at Pittodrie

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.

Visitors milling around stalls at the Music Hall at the Empower Aberdeen event.

Empowering Tenants at Aberdeen’s Largest Community Support Event

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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.

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NETRALT and NTP working together

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NTP logo

North East Tenants, Residents and Landlords Together (NETRALT) and the newly established Northern Tenants Partnership (NTP), joined forces to host their first interactive virtual session centred around the theme of “Working in Partnership.” The event targeted tenants, residents, community groups and staff across Scotland, bringing together a diverse range of voices and experiences. 

The virtual gathering showcased good practice and insights on tenant and community involvement through a series of engaging presentations, videos, and discussions. The spirit of partnership echoed throughout the event, with tenants and staff both contributing to its success. Colin Stewart, a Castlehill tenant and NETRALT member, acted as the event’s host and provided the technical know-how to provide a digital platform for the event to take place. 

The event commenced with a keynote speech by George Walker, Chairperson of the Board of the Scottish Housing Regulator, setting the tone for the day. A selection of topics was covered during the session, including youth involvement, scrutiny, community growing initiatives, participatory budgeting and Regional Networks. 

With NETRALT ‘s membership covering Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray, and NTP spanning the Highlands & Islands, Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebrides, the collaboration provided attendees with insights from a wide array of tenants, community groups, and landlords. 

The event concluded with an interactive online quiz, with a tenant delegate from Aberdeen City Council winning the star prize of £100 in vouchers. 

Catherine Coutts, Co-Chair of NETRALT and Castlehill’s Tenant Participation Officer, explained,  

“We were thrilled to partner with Northern Tenants Partnership to share the amazing work taking place in our communities. This event provided a unique opportunity for tenants to inspire one another, furthering our aims of sharing good practice, creating a valuable support network, and promoting tenant engagement far and wide.” 

Suzy Boardman, Principal Tenant & Customer Engagement Officer at Highland Council, said,  

“Friday’s event really highlighted what can be achieved when we pool our resources and work collaboratively. It was inspiring to hear about the great work happening all across our region and come away with lots of ideas for future partnership projects.’  

 The success of this collaborative event highlights the commitment of tenant participation groups to foster meaningful partnerships, share knowledge and enhance the tenant experience across Scotland.  

photo of NETRALT collecting award from Michelle McManus

Tenant and social landlord group celebrates TPAS award wins

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A North East tenant and social landlord group celebrated success last month at the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) National Good Practice Awards ceremony in Clydebank.

North East Tenants, Residents and Landlords Together (NETRALT) won Best Practice in Developing Communities award for its groundbreaking work involving young people from across Aberdeen, while NETRALT member and Castlehill Housing Association tenant Colin Stewart won the coveted Alan Ferguson Tenant Champion of the Year award.

NETRALT embarked upon an innovative city-wide project to engage and collaborate with young people via research aimed at exploring youth knowledge and aspirations.

The project involved staff from Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Foyer, Castlehill, Grampian and Langstane Housing Associations, as well as young people from Aberdeen City Youth Council (now Aberdeen City Youth Movement) and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

The report will be used in Aberdeen’s Local Housing Strategy, as well as being a link to a child-friendly city and will make an impact on services and the resources that young people are reliant on.

NETRALT’s co-chairs Katie Taylor and Catherine Coutts were delighted to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the group and were joined by one of the young people involved, Rebecca Cuthbert.

Catherine Coutts said: “We engaged with young people, not just as a demographic to fill a quota; this went way beyond youth involvement and co-production. Young people designed, distributed, compiled and launched the survey to ensure that captured views were authentic. The survey achieved its aims, with 595 responses forming the basis of a report authored entirely by young people themselves.”

Katie Taylor added: “Housing is such an important topic; it has a direct impact on young people and they should have a say in what happens. It is vital that they feel their voice is listened to and this project is step towards establishing a city youth housing network to ensure this happens.”

Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Public Protection convener, Councillor Miranda Radley, said: “It’s fantastic news that North East Tenants, Residents and Landlords Together have received national recognition by winning the Best Practice in Developing Communities award at the Tenant Participation Advisory Service National Good Practice Awards. “My congratulations go out to everyone involved and I am pleased their hard work has been recognised nationally.”

Tenant and social landlord group celebrates TPAS award wins

Colin Stewart receiving the Alan Ferguson Tenant Champion of the Year award

Castlehill Registered Tenants Organisation (CaRTO) chair Colin Stewart has helped support the organisation to get involved with scheme inspections and to support communities via CaRTO’s funding scheme.

Colin is always a friendly face when he meets tenants and is able to help with his knowledge and lived experience of being a social housing tenant.

An active member of NETRALT and a well-kent face throughout not just the North East, but nationally, due to his role as chair of the North of Scotland Regional Network, he is also the only tenant member of the Housing to 2040 Strategic Board.

Colin has spoken in parliament to communicate tenant comments and evidence to the Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee to inform its consideration of the first report to Parliament on the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act.

Tenant participation officer Catherine, who nominated Colin for this award, explained: “Colin is a force of nature and a worthy winner of this award because of his unfailing enthusiasm and dedication to the social housing sector and the wider community, from grassroots level to national strategic board level. His voluntary work has resulted in positive changes and improvements to many people’s lives across Scotland.”

More winners from the event can be found here.

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