Ayrshire Housing’s Board is consulting with tenants on a proposal that rents from April 2016 will be increased by no more than 2%. This would equate to an increase of no more than £1.64 a week for a typical 3apt house (2 bedrooms) and £1.85 for a 4apt house (3 bedrooms).
In considering this proposal the Board took into account the need to reconcile the financial pressures facing many of our tenants with the value that tenants attach to the levels of service which we provide such as our repairs and property investment programmes, including major renewals of doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms, etc.
Based on preliminary budgeting there is a reasonable prospect that the actual increase may be lower, however the Board agreed that it was prudent to consult on a maximum weekly increase of 2%. This would make an adequate allowance for the significant level of major improvement works that are planned for 2016 and 2017.
It is important that tenants are fully consulted on such a proposal and we are keen to receive any views which you may have. In addition we are sending out a survey to the tenants on our Consultation Panel asking whether our rents provide value for money. We are also providing the Consultation Panel with a number of options regarding the rent review and making clear the potential impact which each of the options would have on service levels and service quality. If you wish to be included in our Consultation Panel please contact Caroline Donald, our Performance and Quality Manager, for further information. Caroline can arrange for a rent survey to be sent to you.
If you have any comments or views on the proposed increase we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us either in writing, email at info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk, text or by speaking to your Housing Officer. You can also leave a public comment here.
We will take note of all your comments and feed them back to the Board before they make the final decision regarding setting rents at the February Board meeting.