Texts are a hit with younger tenants

Text messaging is ‘without a doubt' the best way to communicate with young people, according to research conducted by Rosebery Housing Association.

The Epsom-based association received an innovation and good practice grant from the Housing Corporation to investigate how texting can be used to communicate with tenants.

It has now built up a database of 1,000 mobile phone numbers which it uses to get information out to tenants. Texting has proved most effective among younger residents, according to community development manager Jonathan Lees.

The association had texted 14 to 18-year-olds involved in school holiday activities, he said. ‘It's just by far the best way of getting information out to them. It's an instant reminder: “Don't forget”. That's why it's worked with youngsters, because it's instant and it's to their hands.

‘We are looking at how we can mainstream it when the grant runs out because it has proved to be an effective means of communication,' he added.

Other forms of communication had proved less successful when targeting young people. ‘They won't ring you, definitely won't write to you.

They might leave you a tag somewhere,' Mr Lees said. The association had done work on promoting texting for sheltered housing schemes but with less success than when targeting young people.

Reactions to the initiative had been positive, according to Mr Lees. But there had been calls for information to be better targeted.

The association was now looking at expanding its use of text messaging.