Social housing sector: engaging with tenants from ethnic minority backgrounds

3. Executive Summary

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 research was carried out by the Tenants Information Service (TIS) between April and October 2025 and drew on landlord surveys, tenant interviews, case studies, website audits, and desk-based research.

3.1 Key findings

• Underrepresentation: Minority ethnic tenants remain underrepresented in tenant participation structures such as scrutiny panels, forums, and governance boards.
• Data gaps: While most landlords collect ethnicity data, large proportions are recorded as “unknown” and very little is analysed or published. This makes it difficult to monitor participation or measure progress.
• Barriers: Tenants and landlords identified language barriers, limited access to translation, digital exclusion, childcare, transport, mistrust, and experiences of discrimination as key obstacles to involvement.
• Recruitment challenges as evidence of exclusion: Despite extensive outreach, few minority ethnic tenants were recruited to take part in this study. This reflects the wider exclusion of these communities from existing participation structures.
• Good practice exists but is inconsistent: Some landlords demonstrated inclusive approaches—such as multilingual surveys, refugee-specific meetings, partnerships with community groups and faith leaders, and culturally sensitive events—but these examples are isolated rather than embedded across the sector.
• Staff awareness and training is patchy: Less than half of landlords reported providing equality or cultural awareness training for staff and board members. Confidence and capacity to engage inclusively is therefore uneven.
• Limited community partnerships: Only 39% of landlords said they worked with community or faith groups to support participation, despite evidence that partnerships build trust and encourage engagement.

3.2 Recommendations

The research highlights the need for:

1. Better data collection and transparency – improve the quality of ethnicity data, reduce “unknown” responses, and publish results to track progress.

2. Increased representation in governance – introduce targeted recruitment, mentoring, and reporting to ensure boards reflect the diversity of tenants.

3. Inclusive and accessible participation opportunities – routinely provide translation, interpretation, childcare, & transport to remove practical barriers.

4. Targeted activities – create dedicated spaces and culturally tailored events for minority ethnic tenants to engage meaningfully.

5. Stronger partnerships with communities – work with faith groups, resettlement officers, and equality bodies to build trust and participation.

6. More visible and representative communications – ensure imagery, language, and participation strategies reflect Scotland’s diversity.

7. Investment in staff and board development – provide ongoing equality and cultural awareness training.

8. National leadership and monitoring – refresh national data on representation, strengthen Charter guidance, & ensure progress is monitored.

3.3 Conclusion

Proactive, inclusive, and targeted approaches are needed to ensure minority ethnic tenants are supported to have a genuine voice in decisions about their homes and communities.