IOH-RIBA Tenant Participation in Housing Design - A Guide for Action
One of the most important lessons to be learnt from the story of British public sector housing since 1945 is that users who have no say in the way their accommodation is designed or improved are more likely to be dissatisfied with it.
'Tenant participation ' is a fashionable name far what is often an unglamorous and always a time-consuming process. However, it has now become an essential ingredient in achieving satisfaction in public sector rented housing. This guide aims first to persuade professional housing designers and managers with little or no experience of tenant participation in the design process to give it serious consideration. Its second aim is to give simple, practical advice on the factors and issues involved.
Achieving tenant parlicipation is a skill which lO a large exlenl is acquired Ihrough experience. Nevertheless, we hope thal Ihis short exposition of ils benefils and pitfalls, together wilh the practical advice offered, will encourage professionals lo work in partnership with lenanls, Ihe users of Ihe buildings, in seeking solutions to exisling problems or in providing new buildings.