Young residents in partnership - Using peer research is housing to make the invisible visible

“How do young people take leadership roles in influencing strategy and decision-making in Housing Associations and impact local housing services?”

An Overview of the Work 

Partnership for Young London has partnered up with three major housing associations: Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), Hyde Housing, and Clarion Housing, by setting up a peer research team to gain a better understanding of how young residents would like to influence their housing situation and how to increase youth leadership within Housing Associations. More details about this project and its findings can be viewed here. 6 peer researchers conducted interviews, hosted focus groups, interviewed the CEO’s of the Housing Associations and reviewed the data and insight presented at both regional and national conferences aiming to help shape policy and practice across the Housing Sector.

Their recommendations are being used to shape practice and approaches in terms of resident voice and engagement as well as shape national youth led manifestos.

Growing up in a housing association in London and experiencing the difficulties in getting on the housing ladder made me curious as to what I could do to improve the conditions and the housing crisis. The opportunity to conduct peer research on housing associations provides an exciting and important platform to inform better housing options, especially for other young people’

‘Young people are generally in a difficult position to buy, to rent or to have access to housing. Also, young residents are often not tenants or leaseholders, which could result in the fact that young people are not written into housing policy or within wider strategies of housing associations.’