15+ Essential Tools & Resources for Housing Associations to Support Tenants
Housing associations are being asked to support tenants in far more complex ways than ever before. Rising living costs, digital exclusion, health pressures and service expectations all show up in tenant satisfaction, complaints and long-term tenancy outcomes.
The organisations making the most progress aren’t trying to build everything themselves. They focus on curating the right mix of tools, partners and journeys that support tenants at the moments it matters most, without adding operational strain.
Below is a modern toolkit, combining well-established services with emerging approaches that forward-thinking housing associations are beginning to adopt..
Financial wellbeing and stability
Money stress remains one of the strongest drivers of arrears, disengagement and dissatisfaction. Increasingly, housing associations are focusing on early intervention, not just crisis support.
Most providers already signpost tenants to trusted national services such as:
Turn2us for benefits checks, grants and income support.
MoneyHelper, the government-backed service for budgeting, debt and financial guidance.
Where teams want faster, more consistent income maximisation, tools like the Better Off Calculator from Policy in Practice are often used alongside financial inclusion work.
For complex or sensitive situations, referrals to Citizens Advice remain a critical part of tenant support pathways.
Together, these tools help tenants feel supported earlier, reducing escalation and pressure on frontline teams.
What’s emerging
Some housing associations are now layering this with predictive insight and early-warning tools to identify households at risk before issues become acute. Platforms such as:
Mobysoft (RentSense) – predictive analytics for arrears prevention.
Housemark Insights – performance and tenant insight tools.
These approaches shift support from reactive to preventative.
Managing energy costs and utilities
Energy affordability has become a core tenant experience issue. Even when costs are outside a landlord’s control, tenants often associate bill pressure with their home.
Widely used resources include:
Simple Energy Advice, a free, government-backed service offering tailored guidance.
Energy Saving Trust for efficiency advice and grant information.
National Energy Action for households at risk of fuel poverty.
Ofgem’s consumer guidance on tariffs, switching and billing rights.
Clear signposting helps tenants feel informed rather than left to navigate rising costs alone.
What’s emerging
Rather than relying on static links, some housing associations are integrating energy support directly into tenant journeys, often alongside retrofit and EPC programmes. Partners such as:
work with housing providers to deliver guided, practical energy advice and support, improving uptake and reducing confusion.
Everyday savings for tenants
Alongside advice and guidance, many housing associations are exploring ways to help tenants reduce everyday costs in practical, visible ways.
Rent Rewards is one example. It provides tenants with access to discounts and cashback on everyday essentials, including groceries, broadband, furniture, tech and clothing. Importantly, this can also include energy switching offers, helping tenants access competitive deals alongside trusted advice.
For housing associations, Rent Rewards offers a low-effort way to support household budgets while generating a modest passive income stream that can be reinvested into tenant services or community initiatives.
Used well, this complements financial wellbeing and energy support rather than replacing them.
Closing the digital access gap
Digital exclusion continues to undermine access to almost every tenant service, from benefits to healthcare to housing portals.
Many housing associations work with or signpost tenants to:
Good Things Foundation, which leads national digital inclusion programmes
The National Databank, providing free mobile data to people who cannot afford connectivity
Low-cost broadband options are also commonly shared, including:
What’s emerging
Some housing associations are embedding digital help directly into tenant portals, combining connectivity support with simple “how-to” guidance so tenants can actually use services once connected. Organisations such as:
support housing providers in designing accessible, confidence-building digital journeys.
Health, wellbeing and connection
Tenant wellbeing increasingly sits alongside housing management, even when services are delivered externally.
Commonly signposted resources include:
Every Mind Matters (NHS) for non-clinical mental wellbeing support.
Shout, a 24/7 text-based crisis support service.
Age UK for older residents.
Mind for mental health guidance and local services
What’s emerging
Rather than long lists of services, some housing associations are moving toward single-access wellbeing routes, one clear, trusted place tenants can go when they need support, reducing friction at stressful moments.
Clear communication and engagement
Many tenant complaints stem from confusion rather than service failure. Clear, timely communication remains one of the strongest experience levers.
Tools and frameworks commonly used include:
Engage Consult for tenant engagement and consultation.
TPAS for tenant participation best practice and training.
The Housing Ombudsman Service for transparency and tenant rights.
What’s emerging
Housing associations are increasingly experimenting with:
Event-based feedback after repairs or move-ins
Short pulse surveys instead of annual-only satisfaction measures
Clear “You said, we did” loops to visibly close the feedback cycle
These approaches build trust without adding survey fatigue.
Curation over ownership
Modern tenant support isn’t about adding more services. It’s about making the right support easier to access, at the right moment.
By curating a mix of established services and emerging tools, housing associations can support tenants more effectively, reduce pressure on internal teams, and deliver a clearer, more human experience at scale.
That shift from ownership to curation is where tenant support is heading next.
