1. Overview
OBJECTIVE
The amount of rent you pay is reviewed each year. Your views are very important to us and are taken into account by the Home Scotland Board before a final decision on rent level is taken.
We consulted on a proposed rent increase for 2017/2018 of 2.5%.
METHOD
A rent consultation newsletter and reply/comments slip was posted to 3475 households (properties due for demolition in East Balornock were excluded).
A survey monkey questionnaire was included on the Home Scotland website from 1st December 2016 to 6th January The newsletter included a link to the Home Scotland website and the survey.
63 customers were contacted by via
SAMPLE
121 customers replied to the postal survey
3 customers replied using Survey Monkey on Home Scotland website
0 customers replied by via

2. Responses by area

3. Themes identified from comments
89 respondents also provided comments from which the following main themes were identified:
Affordability – 34 customers said they were concerned about affordability. Concerns surrounded costs of housing and utilities whilst wages and benefits remained the same or decreased.
Poor repairs – 7 customers specifically said the repairs service was not good enough to justify the increase. Issues concerned poor communication about repairs, repairs not being completed right first time and contractor not turning up at right time.
Poor service – 15 customers commented on poor or no service. Issues were around communal cleaning, grounds maintenance and neighbourhood issues including anti-social behaviour.
Acceptable – 16 customers said they thought an increase of 2.5% was acceptable

4. Themes identified from comments contd
89 respondents also provided comments from which the following main themes were identified:
Planned maintenance / standard of housing – 9 customers felt that the 2.5% increase was not justified as they needed new bathrooms, kitchens, doors or windows. However 1 customer felt that the 2.5% increase was acceptable but commented that they needed double glazing.

5. Do you think the 2.5% represents good vale for money?

6. Do we provide you with clear information about value for money and rent setting?

7. Is the rent you pay affordable for the service you receive?

8. On what should we be spending your rent money?

9. When asked what we should be spending your rent money on?
Of the 124 customers who replied:
83 customers said day to day repairs
90 customers said home improvements
69 customers said energy improvements
43 customers said telling customers more about what we are doing
58 customers said building more homes