The council wants tenants to have a greater say in the service

David Wilkins is one of five tenants appointed to the shadow board of Shoreline Housing Partnership, which has been set up to take over the running of the service.

The local authority wants to transfer its housing stock to a private company because it does not have enough money to fix a backlog of repairs to the properties.

Tenants in North East Lincolnshire will be balloted in April on the proposed transfer to Shoreline.

Previous experience

Councillors want tenants to have a bigger say in the running of their homes if the move is approved.

The proposed company will have a board made up of five tenants, five council nominees and five independent members.

Mr Wilkins said: "I am a tenant and understand the problems tenants face on a day-to-day basis.

"I can bring this valuable experience to ensure tenants stay at the forefront of everything Shoreline would do, if transfer goes ahead."

Mr Wilkins already has experience of tenant issues in his role as chair of the Yarborough Tenants' Compact.