Patricia McQuillan, Tenant AdvOCATE FOR nORTHERN iRELAND

by Patricia McQuillan, Tenant Advocate for NI and Chair of the Housing Policy Panel

When I heard that the Department of Communities was restarting the consultation process for Northern Ireland's next Tenant Participation Strategy (there have been some obstacles!) I can't help but look back at how far we've come since that first Housing Policy Panel meeting in 2017. It's been quite the journey, and I'm so proud of what we've achieved together.

What is the Housing Policy Panel?

For those who might not know us yet, the HPP is a group of tenants representing all the major housing associations in Northern Ireland. We act as a consultative panel to the Department for Communities on housing policy, and our main job is to make sure that tenants' voices are heard loud and clear when decisions about social housing are being made. Since our start, Supporting Communities has been convening our meetings, and we're now represented across 8 out of 20 registered housing associations and the Housing Executive.

Finding Our Feet (2017-2021)

Our early years were all about learning and connecting. The first Strategy called for the formation of our group, which Supporting Communities did in 2017. Those first years got us up and running and skilled up to do our job. We took part in consultations with the Department for Communities, conducted good practice visits to housing associations across Northern Ireland, and even contributed to important research on housing associations being carried out by the University of Birmingham. One project I'm particularly proud of from this period was piloting a new course for "Tenants on Housing Association Boards" – our input helped shape content that will benefit tenant representatives for years to come.

Navigating Challenges (2021-2023)

Then COVID hit, and like everyone else, we had to adapt. While the pandemic slowed us down a bit, we didn't stop. We kept meeting online – nine meetings between March 2021 and 2023 – and continued pushing forward on our work plan.

A major milestone during this period was my appointment as Tenant Advocate, a role that also serves as Chair of the Panel. This fulfilled a key goal from the original Tenant Participation Strategy (2015-2020) and marked a turning point for the HPP. We were no longer just finding our feet – we were establishing ourselves as a proper force for tenants' rights.

Stepping Into the Spotlight (2023-2025)

These past two years have been absolutely exhilarating! The HPP has really come into its own, and we've been making our voices heard in some pretty important places.

Let me share some personal highlights that stand out for me:

Hosting at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive – Early in 2025, we held our HPP meeting at the Housing Executive. I really wanted our members to understand their community involvement strategy and see how the Housing Community Network operates. It was brilliant to make those connections.

Presenting to the Committee for Communities at Stormont – I won't lie, this was quite scary! You never know what questions they'll throw at you. But we were all grand, and it felt amazing to represent tenants at that level.

Speaking at the NIFHA Board Meeting – Again, daunting stuff. You need to be quick-thinking when anyone can ask questions on any topic. But these are the moments where tenant voices truly matter.

Working on Damp and Mould Guidance – Justin Cartwright from the Chartered Institute of Housing asked me to review the updated guide and flyer on damp and mould. Then I sat on a Q&A panel when the guidance was launched in Stormont. It's this kind of practical work that makes a real difference to tenants' daily lives.

International Stage – One of my absolute highlights was speaking at the International Social Housing Festival 2025 in Dublin's Convention Centre about tenant and community empowerment. It went so well – and I definitely want to follow up with the contacts we made that day!

Conference Circuit – I've also spoken at the All-Party Working Group in Stormont, sat on a panel at the NIFHA annual conference in Enniskillen, and participated in the Supporting Communities conference, where I took part in a panel discussion called "Tenants Have the Last Word." That one seemed to really resonate with people.

Throughout this period, we’ve also presented a few times at the NIFHA Chief Executives Forum, and the Panel's work is now a standing item on their agenda. We've also been building connections with other tenant and community-led housing initiatives, including Renter's Voice in Belfast and Neighbourhood Network in Dublin.

Our Biggest Win Yet

But here's the big one: our main objective over these past two years has been to press the Department for Communities to review, revise, and update the Tenant Participation Strategy for Northern Ireland. And we've done it! At our last meeting in 2025, the Department announced an expedited process to bring forward a new plan by 2027.

This is huge. This will be the core focus of our work for the year ahead, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

Looking Forward

As we gear up to develop and consult on the next Tenant Participation Strategy, I'm filled with optimism. The HPP has proven that when tenants come together with a clear voice, things happen. We're now well-recognised in housing circles and properly set up to be influential in the years to come.

We're also keen to reinstate good practice visits in Northern Ireland and further afield – there's always more to learn from each other.

Being your Tenant Advocate means representing and supporting tenants' interests at a strategic level, ensuring two-way communication with all stakeholders, and making sure tenant voices aren't just heard but actually shape policy. After years of community activism and volunteering to improve social housing for everyone, I can honestly say this role – and this Panel – is making that happen.

So yes, we've come a long way, baby. But the exciting part? We're just getting started.

Read more about the Housing Policy Panel and download their recent bi-annual report.