A residents' association can help you if you are having problems with your neighbours. For a residents' association to be effective, it has to represent the whole community.

• When can a residents' association be useful?
• Establishing a residents' association
• Finding a residents' association in your area

When can a residents' association be useful?

A residents association can be a useful tool if:

• you are having problems in your area with antisocial behaviour
• you are looking for funding to improve your area
• you feel that your landlord isn't listening to your views

You can set up a residents' association if you rent from a private landlord, however, most residents' associations are set up by Housing Executive or housing association tenants.

Any group of people living in the same area can set up a residents' association. They can choose:

• who their members will be
• how they will be represented, and
• what they want to achieve

However, if a group wants to make sure that its views are listened to by other organisations they must be able to show that they are:

• accountable
• democratic, and
• representing the views of their community.

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Establishing a residents' association

You should contact the Housing Executive or Supporting Communities NI if you are thinking about setting up a residents' association. You can get advice on:

• involving the whole community
• ensuring that your group is representative of your community
• applying for funding
• dealing with government agencies

However, there are some basic things you should think about when establishing a group to encourage everybody to become involved, including:

• use positive images of minority groups.
• arrange meetings to suit as many members as possible
• develop an equal opportunities policy
• translate information and provide signers/interpreters
• challenge racist, sexist or derogatory remarks
• avoid using stereotypes
• give everybody the right to express an opinion and respect their views

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Finding a residents' association in your area

You can find out about a residents' association in your area by contacting

• your local Housing Executive District Office
• the Northern Ireland Tenants Action Project
• a local advice agency