Meaningful tenant participation means ensuring everyone has a voice, and feels welcome to use it.
Today, the Scottish Government has published research undertaken by TIS exploring the experiences and representation of tenants from ethnic minority backgrounds in Scotland’s social housing sector.
Conducted between April and October 2025, the research highlights persistent barriers to participation, including underrepresentation, language and accessibility challenges, experiences of discrimination, and a lack of trust in existing engagement structures.
The findings are being published against a changing social and political backdrop. Across Scotland and the wider UK, increasingly prominent debates around immigration, identity and belonging, alongside concerns about racism and discrimination, have brought questions of inclusion and community cohesion into sharper focus.
How do we ensure that all tenants, regardless of their background, feel safe, welcome and empowered to influence decisions about their homes and communities?
Inclusion cannot simply be a commitment written into a strategy. It must be reflected in how we communicate, how we build relationships, who is represented in decision-making, and how we respond when people experience exclusion or discrimination.
The research identifies examples of positive practice across Scotland, but also demonstrates that more consistent, proactive approaches are needed.
At TIS, we believe meaningful tenant participation must reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. As the landscape around us continues to change, that responsibility becomes increasingly important.
We hope this research will encourage honest reflection, constructive discussion and practical action across Scotland’s social housing sector.