What Is a Residents’ Association?
A residents’ association (RA) is a voluntary group formed by people who live in the same building, estate, or neighborhood. RAs help residents work together on shared issues, represent the community in discussions with landlords or managing agents, and make local decisions fairly and transparently.
Why set up an RA?
- Stronger voice: Speak as a group on repairs, maintenance, and service charges.
- Fair decision‑making: Agree changes through transparent votes rather than email chains.
- Better community: Organise events, share information, and build neighbour support.
- Accountability: Track issues and follow up with managing agents or local councils.
How an RA works
Most RAs are simple, voluntary groups. A typical setup includes:
- Members: Residents who live in the area covered by the association.
- Committee: Volunteers (e.g., Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) elected by members.
- Constitution: A short document explaining how decisions are made and who can vote.
- Meetings and votes: Regular meetings and ballots on important matters.
RAs can be informal or more formal depending on your needs. You usually don’t need to register a new company to get started. If you manage budgets or hold funds, a simple bank account in the RA’s name and clear financial records are recommended.
What RAs typically do
- Raise and prioritise repairs, maintenance, or safety concerns
- Discuss service charges and value for money with managing agents/landlords
- Coordinate improvements (e.g., bike storage, recycling, planting)
- Run consultations and ballots on local decisions
- Organise community events and share updates with residents
Getting started
- Speak to neighbours and gauge interest; agree the area the RA will cover.
- Hold an initial meeting; nominate a small committee to get things moving.
- Adopt a short constitution (one page is fine) and agree how voting will work.
- Set up communications (email list, group chat) and decide first priorities.
- Schedule regular meetings and keep simple notes and actions.
Note: This is general guidance, not legal advice. Requirements can vary by building or tenure type.
How Resident.Vote helps
Resident.Vote gives RAs a simple, secure way to run ballots and make decisions transparently. You can invite members, run anonymous votes, and share trusted results—without spreadsheets or expensive tools.
- Secure & anonymous: Private ballots with auditability.
- Built for RAs: Roles, member management, and clear results.
- Affordable: Transparent, low-cost pricing.