Tenants
A large part of urban houses are rental homes (more than 56% in the Netherlands). Involving renters can therefore strongly contribute to the realisation of the climate resilient design of cities. Tenants can organise themselves into a tenants’ association that looks after the interests of tenants and manages common activities. If present, these associations can play an important role in reaching and mobilising individual tenants.
Tenants of housing associations or private individuals in participation processes are, for certain measures, dependent on the consent of their landlords. Changes such as the creation of a green roof or the disconnection of a drainpipe can only be made in consultation with the landlord. If one wants to involve tenants, this will always have to be done through their landlords.
Tenants have rental rights which are laid down in local legislation and which may vary from country to country. Their ability to make or influence major changes depends on their own enthusiasm and efforts on the one hand, and on the other hand their type of landlord ( i.e. private landlord, housing association or – in the UK only – local authorities).