Social housing sector: engaging with tenants from ethnic minority backgrounds

1. About This Study

This study was commissioned by the Scottish Government to establish a baseline

understanding of how tenants from ethnic minority backgrounds experience and are represented in tenant participation across Scotland’s social housing sector.

The work was carried out by the Tenants Information Service (TIS) between April and October 2025, and draws on a combination of desk-based research, interviews, case studies,website audits, and survey data collected from housing organisations (housing associations, co-operatives, and local authorities).

The purpose of the study is to provide an evidence base that reflects the experiences of housing organisations and tenants, and to inform fresh approaches that ensure

participation opportunities are accessible and meaningful for all tenants in Scotland.

In its research, this study considers:

• How tenants from minority ethnic backgrounds are currently represented within tenant participation in Scotland, including tenant organisations, scrutiny panels, and governance boards.
• The factors that shape participation, such as language, cultural inclusion, digital access, trust, and experiences of discrimination.
• The extent to which landlords collect, report, and act on data about tenants’ ethnicity and participation.
• The visibility of minority ethnic tenants in landlord communications and strategies, through a desktop audit of websites, publications, and policies.
• Tenant and landlord perspectives, gathered through surveys, 1:1 interviews, and case studies, which provide insight into lived experiences and organisational practice.
• Examples of good practice that demonstrate inclusive approaches, and opportunities to strengthen representation across the sector.

For this report, we use the term “minority ethnic” or “ethnic minority” in line with Scottish Government guidance, referring to all ethnic groups except the White British group. Ethnic minorities include White minorities, such as Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller groups.

Click here to see a list of ethnic groups recommended by the government (applicable to Scotland).