Tenants and colleagues came together for a day of conversation, learning and discussion focused on tenant rights, tenant voice, feedback and changing housing needs.
On the 14th of October 2026, Circle brought tenants and colleagues together for its first-ever Tenant Conference, creating an opportunity to share perspectives, explore important housing issues and encourage meaningful conversation.
The conference featured a keynote address, a panel discussion, interactive breakout sessions and community recognition. Speakers and facilitators from across the housing, advocacy and community sectors contributed their experience and perspectives to a programme centred on issues that matter to tenants.
As a tenant first organisagtion, Circle recognises the importance of understanding tenants’ experiences and creating opportunities for dialogue about housing and the services that support residents.
Learning from different perspectives
The conference welcomed Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, to deliver the keynote address.
The programme also featured contributions from Caroline Moloney, National Director of the Chartered Institute of Housing Ireland; Catherine McGillycuddy of the Irish Council for Social Housing; and Graham Martin, Representation Team Lead at Threshold.
Their participation formed part of a programme exploring tenant rights, representation and the wider issues relevant to social housing.
Bringing together perspectives from different organisations created an opportunity for discussion and learning across a range of topics affecting tenants and housing providers.
Understanding tenant rights
A central feature of the conference was a panel discussion titled Understanding Your Rights as a Tenant.
The panel included Caroline Moloney, Catherine McGillycuddy and Graham Martin, with Siobhán O’Neill facilitating the discussion.
Tenant rights are an important part of the relationship between tenants and housing providers. Opportunities to discuss rights, raise questions and understand different perspectives can help support greater awareness of the issues involved in housing.
The panel formed an important part of the day’s programme, bringing together contributors with experience across housing and tenant representation.
Exploring the issues that matter to tenants
The conference also featured three breakout sessions designed to explore practical themes relating to tenant voice, housing needs and feedback.
Having a Voice That Matters
Led by Siobhán O’Neill of ESI Consultancy, this session explored voice and engagement.
Providing opportunities for tenants to express their views and share their experiences is an important consideration for housing providers. Conversations about engagement can help bring different perspectives into the discussion about housing and community life.
When Housing Needs Change
Led by Gavin Connelly, Director of Services at Circle VHA, this session focused on changing housing needs.
Housing needs can vary between individuals and households. The session provided an opportunity to consider this theme in the context of social and affordable housing.
Making Tenant Feedback Count
Lisa Flynn and Kirsty McCaffrey from Circle VHA’s Quality & Compliance team led a question-and-answer session on tenant feedback and compliance.
Feedback is an important topic for discussion between tenants and housing providers. Creating opportunities for questions and dialogue allows issues relating to feedback and compliance to be explored directly.
Together, the breakout sessions addressed different aspects of the tenant experience and provided space to consider the issues in greater detail.
Recognising our community
Alongside the keynote, panel and breakout sessions, the programme included a community recognition session.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from John Hannigan, CEO of Circle VHA.
The event provided an opportunity for tenants and colleagues to come together, hear different perspectives and take part in conversations about housing and community life.
Continuing the conversation
Circle’s first Tenant Conference marked an important opportunity to bring tenants and colleagues together around issues including tenant rights, voice, feedback and changing housing needs.
As a provider of social and affordable homes, Circle recognises the importance of understanding tenants’ experiences and creating opportunities for discussion about the issues that matter to them.
The conference brought these themes into focus through its speakers, panel discussion and breakout sessions.
Circle would like to thank all the tenants, speakers, facilitators and colleagues who contributed to the event and helped make its first Tenant Conference possible.
