Housing association calls upon 7Video to help put tenants in the picture

7Video was called upon to create a series of short, informative films that would pass on health and safety advice and other top tips to tenants being accommodated by Circle Housing Group, which manages around 65,000 homes and provides vital care, support, and telecare services to around 200,000 people across the UK.

The Group was keen to communicate with tenants in an easy and accessible fashion, and asked for 7Video’s assistance in developing three separate short films, one covering boiler safety, another outlining how to deal with condensation, and a final film offering tenants top tips on saving energy.

“The rapid rise in digital communications really is changing the way in which the housing sector has to engage more-effectively with its tenants,” Pete Sims, Director at 7Video, explained. “Whereas in the past, information leaflets, printed factsheets and the like were a tried and trusted method of getting a message across, with DVDs, the internet, Smartphone and other modern technologies, tenants are actually demanding more, which is why forward-thinking organisations such as the Circle Housing Group are embracing video as a means of connecting with tenants in a much more interactive way.”

For the boiler safety tutorial, 7Video developed a seven-minute long short-film in the upbeat style of a daytime television show, with the aim of first informing tenants of the safety dangers a faulty gas boiler can bring, then offering step-by-step advice on how to identify a potential problem – for example the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning – as well as outlining the steps needed to be taken if a tenant suspects a gas leak.

“By using an enthusiastic and engaging presenter, and adopting a positive tone throughout the film, we were able to take an undoubtedly serious health and safety subject, and package crucial advice into a format that was both accessible – tenants just have to pop the DVD on and watch for a few minutes, rather than trawl through faceless pages of ‘dos and don’ts’ – and easy to understand,” Pete commented.

Similar videos were also produced offering simple tips on how to deal with condensation, a particularly important topic for tenants during the cold winter months, as well as a guide packed with practical advice on how to conserve energy in the home, which also offers tenants advice on the ways they can cut their utility bills.

Victoria Brooke, Head of Marketing Services for Circle Housing Group, commented: “Working with 7Video has been brilliant. They are reliable and professional, but more than that, they add extra value by offering creative input and production guidance. With 7Video’s assistance, we have managed to produce a set of really great videos that didn’t cost the earth but are just right for our audience.”