Tenant celebration event and engagement strategy
We want to work with you to ensure all tenants live in good quality and safe homes.
This summer we hosted a special Tenant Celebration event to launch our new Tenant Engagement Strategy and say thank you to tenants and leaseholders for the important role you play in our community.
The celebration was an opportunity to recognise the many ways tenants and leaseholders contribute - whether through community groups, responding to surveys and consultations or other activities that help improve local services and neighbourhoods.
During the event, tenants received certificates as a thank you for their time, commitment and dedication. Meet the Tenant Engagement Team here
The newly launched Tenant Engagement Strategy sets out how the council will continue to listen to and work alongside tenants. It includes clear commitments to improving communication, creating more opportunities for involvement and ensuring tenant and leaseholder voices help shape future priorities and service delivery.
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If you would like to get involved please contact the Tenant Engagement Team on comm_partnerships@sandwell.gov.uk ‘
Tenant and Leaseholder Conference – It’s all about you
 The next opportunity to get involved is our Tenant and Leaseholder Conference. Come along to hear about the changes happening in Sandwell Housing, have your say, and help shape the services that matter most to you.
You'll have the opportunity to meet staff, take part in discussions, find out what's planned for the future, and share your ideas on how we can improve our services.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Children are welcome to attend. For young people aged 5 to 15, we have a dedicated programme of fun activities to keep them entertained while you enjoy the conference.
Date: Saturday 5 September 2026
Arrival: 9.30am
Conference: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Location: West Bromwich Town Hall High Street West Bromwich B70 8AY
West Bromwich Town Hall
The Smethwick Advice Centre is here to help
Do you need advice or information to help with debt, benefits or housing issues?
We’re making it easier to access support by bringing it together all in one place.
No appointment needed – just come along to the Smethwick Advice Centre for confidential advice or support on financial, housing and welfare issues.
Read the list of topics we can help with
It’s open to everyone, every Wednesday at Smethwick Library between 9:30am and 2pm.
Watch the video below to find out more
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Our Welfare Rights team can help you
One of the services at our new Smethwick Advice Hub is our Welfare Rights team.
Two recent cases show how the team is making a real difference:
- A council tenant was told they had a Housing Benefit overpayment of £19,778, as well as an overpayment of Council Tax Reduction. The Welfare Rights Officer reviewed everything and worked with the tenant to pull together evidence to challenge this. This was accepted, so benefits were reinstated and the overpayment cancelled meaning the tenant was able to keep their home.
- A resident contacted our Advice Line after being told they had a £45,022 overpayment of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). A Welfare Rights Officer supported them from October 2024, challenged the decision, and represented them at a tribunal. The tribunal agreed the resident should not have lost their benefit. The overpayment was cancelled, the PIP award was reinstated from June 2024, and the resident will receive a large, backdated payment.
Please contact us about your issues with benefits.
The benefit cap and two-child limit
On 6 April, the government removed the two-child limit for Universal Credit. This is a significant change which can increase the financial income of families.
Although the two-child limit has been removed the benefit cap remains in place. The benefit cap is the total amount of benefits some households can receive.
The amount for Sandwell is £22,020. This works out as £423.46 per week for Couples or Lone parents and £283.71 for single adults without children. Any increase in benefit entitlement from the removal of the two-child limit could be reduced by the benefit cap.
How can families avoid the benefit cap?
Families can be exempt from the benefit cap if they are in work and earning at least the minimum earnings threshold required by Universal Credit. Some families are exempt if they receive certain disability benefits.
Every family circumstance is different, seek advice from our Welfare Rights team to ensure you receive the correct advice and support.
Get in touch with our welfare rights team
How can I get support to find work? Our employment and skills team work with residents of all ages to help find jobs, apprenticeships and to prepare for work. Friendly and experienced advisors are available to support you to identify your options, help build a CV or fill in an application, prepare for an interview, access local vacancies and more. Advisors are based in accessible venues throughout Sandwell.
Find out more about the support available and make an appointment.
Another satisfied tenant
Our backlog repairs contractor, Seddons, is working hard to complete repairs.
Hear from Jennifer about the work to fit her new kitchen and the way the team has kept her updated.
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Hear from Emma about the difference that new guttering has made for her.
 We’re working through the backlog as quickly as possible and are on track to complete them by the end of the year.
Resident Complaints Panel
A new Resident Complaints Panel for Housing has been set up, as part of our commitment to keep improving our customer service. The panel is made up of Sandwell residents who have experienced the council’s complaints process, and members of our Housing Resolutions team who have been responsible for responding to complaints.
The panel has been set up to make sure we can hear directly from residents about their experience of how complaints have been managed, investigated and responded to. We want to learn from this and continue to improve the way we handle complaints so we can provide the best solutions for all our residents.
The panel met for the first time in May, and will meet once a quarter to review anonymised complaints, and give their opinions on how we could improve.
You said, we did: Improving Right to Buy Lease Terms
One example of how we are listening to complaints and changing our approach is Right to Buy lease terms.
A tenant told us they were unhappy with the 92-year lease term offered as part of their application, when they were expecting 125 years. They felt this could affect the value of their home and their mortgage, and that the explanation about lease terms was unclear.
We listened and changed our approach. The tenant was issued with a full 125‑year lease, allowing their purchase to complete without delay. We reviewed our wider practice for issuing leases on Right to Buy and confirmed that we did not need to stick to the same end date for all leases within a block. As a result, all future Right to Buy sales of flatted accommodation will be issued with a 125‑year lease.
This example shows how tenant feedback helps us improve services and make lasting changes that benefit residents.
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Are your belongings covered?
Many tenants assume their items are insured—but this isn’t the case.
Sandwell Council does not automatically insure your belongings.
To help, we’ve partnered with Ecclesiastical to offer affordable home contents insurance.
What’s covered?
✔ Furniture and clothing ✔ TVs, gadgets and valuables ✔ Items in sheds or garages
Protected against damage or loss caused by fire, theft or vandalism, flooding and leaks or storm damage, and there is no excess to pay if you claim.
Find out more
You’re free to arrange your own insurance if you prefer.
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