Question of the week: Resident Engagement
Q. Must every single resident’s opinion be incorporated in the Resident Engagement Strategy for it to be valid?
A. While it’s essential for the Principal Accountable Person to create, distribute and consult on a Resident Engagement Strategy, it’s not necessary that every resident has participated in that process. The strategy should include efforts to reach out to residents, providing information on building safety decisions, and inviting their opinions. It’s about ensuring diverse resident involvement, not about achieving unanimous participation.
What does this mean for you?
- Efficient Communication: Develop a strategy that outlines how you will inform residents about safety decisions. This could be through various channels like letters or surveys by post, social media, or physical meetings.
- Selective Consultation: Focus on consulting residents on decisions that directly affect them. For instance, if repair work might cause disruptions, ask residents for their preferred timings or ways to minimise inconvenience.
- Distribution: Provide a copy of the strategy to all Accountable Persons (APs). APs must then distribute it to all residents over the age of 16 and owners of units in the parts of the building they manage. It’s essential to offer the strategy in formats that meet the residents’ diverse needs, such as paper copies for those who prefer it and digital versions via email for others. This approach underlines the strategy’s accessibility and inclusiveness.
- Feedback and Adaptation: Use the feedback from residents to adapt your strategy. This shows you value their input and are committed to improving the engagement process. The AP must provide a new version of the strategy each time it is updated.
- Regular Review: Ensure that your strategy is reviewed at least every two years, and after significant changes to the building or in response to resident feedback.
- Be Proportionate: Remember, the goal is to involve residents in a meaningful way without overwhelming them or the process. It’s about creating a balanced and effective engagement strategy.
Remember, your Resident Engagement Strategy is a dynamic document. It should evolve with the residents’ needs and the building’s safety requirements. Compliance is about adaptation and responsiveness, not just ticking boxes.
Tetra Consulting is an independent property and safety risk consultancy offering smart solutions informed by client insight and knowledge. We work with hundreds of property professionals across the UK to help ensure building safety and compliance in various organisations. We are frequently asked about best practices and aim to share our expertise and insights through our Q&A series.
Sign up to stay informed about this series here: https://mailchi.mp/tetraconsulting/stay-informed