HOMELIFE
November 2025
Angela takes steps to keep her community looking its best
Estate Walkabouts are the perfect opportunity for our Neighbourhood Housing Leads (called Tenancy Sustainment Officer for residents in Trafford) to work with involved residents and Neighbourhood Champions. Their purpose is for us to walk with residents to find out what needs to be repaired or improved where you live.
We reintroduced these Estate Walkabouts in Trafford in May 2022, where a very successful partnership has developed on the Grange Estate in Altrincham in Trafford. Resident. Angela White, has been attending Estate Walkabouts in their various forms for the past 10 years.
Angela had previously been reporting overgrown areas and neighbourhood improvements to us (formerly Trafford Housing Trust) mainly by phone. When her neighbour mentioned to her that the Estate Walkabouts were going to take place, Angela was keen to take part:
“I thought walking with the Tenancy Sustainment team and showing them might be beneficial to improve any estate issues”, she said. “Sometimes a phone call or email may not be enough to highlight a problem’’.
The Estate Walkabouts on the Grange Estate are also attended by L&Q Managers and Local Councillors. Angela explained the best part of the Estate Walkabout is the interaction with the Tenancy Sustainment team. She said:
“The face-to-face meetings with L&Q and local councillors help maintain areas on the estate. You can find out how estate services work whilst walking and talking. You get the ‘feel good factor’ when a change or an improvement has been made in your neighbourhood.”
Jack Webster, Neighbourhood Lead in Trafford, said:
‘’The Estate walkabouts play a crucial role in maintaining and improving neighbourhoods, especially when residents are actively involved.
"These walkabouts allow housing management and our wider teams to identify issues such as fly-tipping, vandalism, or maintenance needs early, ensuring swift action and better service delivery. More importantly, they help create stronger relationships between staff and the residents, building trust and transparency.
"When residents attend, their local knowledge and lived experience bring valuable insights that might otherwise be missed. Their involvement promotes shared ownership of the space, encourages community pride, and strengthens community cohesion. I believe, estate walkabouts become far more effective and meaningful when residents are actively involved.’’
If you are interested in becoming a Neighbourhood Champion, please message our Resident Involvement team.