Summer 2026 - The latest updates from the Resident Voice network include residents scrutinising ‘moving in’, starting resident forums and much more. To find out more about helping to shape our services, please contact our Resident Involvement Officer, Mara Lusardi.
A big thank you to the nine residents from London and Walsall who made a real difference as the latest scrutiny panel. They looked at what it’s like to move into a Watmos home – from viewings and sign-up to tenancy support.
The panel found positives, like properties in good condition to let. They also recommended improvements, including the information we give to new tenants. Next: Watmos will respond to the report and start putting the panel’s recommendations into practice.
In March, Mara Lusardi met with a group of residents in Lambeth who had offered to be Block Ambassadors. They discussed what the role could involve (e.g. representing their blocks, talking to us about issues and updating neighbours).
We were happy to support this idea, with Block Ambassador training starting in Lambeth shortly.
Resident Voice forums are a supportive space in which residents can share common experiences, ideas and plans for their estates. At the Lambeth Resident Voice forum in June, discussions included the repairs service, leasehold issues and communications, forming new residents’ associations, and possible uses for the communal areas at Thorlands.
Residents from across our Walsall estates got together in March and launched a Resident Voice Forum for Walsall. We will continue to hold forum meetings in both regions on a quarterly basis.
Along with the various opportunities for residents to get involved with community activities and shaping Watmos services, we aim to support residents’ efforts to set up residents’ associations for their estates.
In Lambeth, a group of Ethelred residents are considering setting up an association: new people are getting involved for the first time, and we are pleased to provide support. Magdalen’s Tenant and Resident Association continue to host a great variety of community events and activities. And Thorlands volunteers are working together to develop new activities, environmental improvements, and food-growing with Helping Hands Collective.
In Walsall, new residents’ associations have been set up on Sandbank and Avenues estates, while Chuckery and Twin Crescents residents are working on creating their own associations. Please get in touch if you would like more details or to get involved.
Earlier this year, we surveyed residents, asking how we can best support your communities this year. We were delighted to receive 171 responses from Walsall residents. Although feedback differed between estates, most residents said we should prioritise:
Fitness and wellbeing activities
Local advice and support
Social activities for the whole community
Communications across different media
Estate maintenance improvements
Supporting resident volunteering
Help us improve! Your feedback after a repair is vital. Please take the time to fill in the survey we send you after each repair. As a small thank you, each completed survey gives free entry into our monthly £100 prize draw.
Cleaning & Grounds Maintenance in Lambeth: Your Feedback
Thank you to everyone who came to drop-ins or completed the survey earlier this year. Here are some common themes from your feedback:
Grounds maintenance
Residents like the current grass-cutting and general tidy-ups, but said that planting and landscaping need more attention, and they would like more involvement opportunities. Problems include neglected areas, overgrown trees and litter.
Cleaning
Residents said that some areas are cleaned regularly but others need more attention. They would like to see better monitoring, schedules, and waste & recycling.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We are working with our contractors to deliver the improvements you asked for, put information online and create more involvement opportunities.