Survey seeks tenants’ views on council homes

Tenants of council houses in the Highlands are being asked for their views on the services provided by The Highland Council, as their landlord.

The Council is offering ten £50 vouchers in a free prize draw for those tenants who respond by the deadline of 13 January 2014.

The short survey  features in the festive edition of the quarterly tenant newsletter, which will be distributed to the 13,000 homes of council house tenants over the festive period.

The survey seeks tenants’ views on the quality of their homes and the value of money of a recommended below inflation rent increase for 2014/15.

Rents will be set at the next meeting of the Finance, Housing and Resources Committee on Wednesday 22 January 2014.

The most recent nationally reported  average rent for mainstream council housing in Highland is £67.45 per week net of service charges.

Much of the income raised through rents is spent on repairs and improvements to council homes.  In 2014-15, the Housing and Property Service will spend £54.147 million to ensure that all properties meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

In 2014/15, the Council plans to install 2,000 new central heating systems, 450 new bathrooms and 150 new kitchens.  It also plans to build 100 new energy efficient homes across the Highlands.