Training for tenants

TPAS Scotland provides a range of training courses that are available as full day, half day or evening sessions.  Our more popular courses are outlined below, although if you cannot find the course you are looking for please ask.  We provide flexible training on various topics as requested and can tailor these to your needs.   

Committee skills training

TPAS provides training to new and established tenant organisations on the skills needed to make your committee function effectively. The course covers the range of necessary committee skills including how to prepare an agenda, effectively chair a meeting and take accurate minutes. It outlines proper conduct at meetings, helpful and unhelpful behaviour and the role of the committee and office bearers.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2001

This short training session outlines the main tenets of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. It explains the significant aspects introduced by the Act and the implications this has on housing providers. The session outlines tenants’ rights and landlords’ duties introduced by the Act, with a specific focus on the tenant participation provisions. 

Tenant led inspections

Tenant led inspections are a method of involving tenants in the inspection of housing services provided by their landlord.  It is a way for tenants to monitor and evaluate the performance of their landlord and recommend improvements to the service by analysing and reporting their findings. 
Tenant inspectors are expected to carry out their activities in a professional manner. This training course explains how tenant led inspections are carried out, what skills are required and how to implement an inspection. 

Mystery shopping

Mystery Shopping is a type of tenant led inspection. Mystery shoppers are involved in designing various ‘scenarios’, which they test to see how well housing services are being delivered. It is carried out by making telephone calls, visiting housing offices or by combining both methods.  
It allows tenants to test effectiveness of customer services, by assessing the quality of service and information being provided to tenants by housing staff. This training session will explain what you need to know and will help plan how to implement a mystery shopping exercise. 

Complaints system training

This training is designed to equip tenants in the monitoring and evaluation of complaints and comments that have been collected by housing staff. It will prepare tenants to be part of a panel for stage 3 (or earlier) of their landlord’s complaints policy.

Housing policy

TPAS has a proven track record of providing complicated information in a clear and straightforward way. We can provide basic training on most areas of housing policy including:

• allocations & homelessness
• rent setting
• tenant participation
• antisocial behaviour
• repairs and maintenance

Producing newsletters

This session will help you to produce newsletters that are easily understood, attractive and readable, to help your organisation get its message across effectively.
After this session you will be confident about what information to include and how to present your newsletter. The session will focus on language and style, design and layout and the use of effective and non-effective visual signposting.
The session draws on recognised good practise. It will provide an opportunity to find out what has worked for different organisations across the country and how you can replicate this in your own newsletter.  

Getting people involved

Do you struggle to get new people to join your group? How do you overcome apathy? This training session will look at ways to get more people involved. It helps you identify what the specific barriers and issues are for your area and how you can address these. Whether you are a new group or just seem to be losing your momentum, help is at hand. 
The session will look at innovative ideas that have worked for tenants and resident associations in other areas and which approaches might work for you. It will explain how to keep your existing members enthusiastic and involved.