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Rent Consultation – It’s Time to Have Your Say
We are writing to all tenants consulting on what your rent and service charges will be from the 28th March this year up to the 27th March 2021.
Look out for your personalised letter and information sheet coming in the post.
Why are We Writing to You
Every year Paisley Housing Association undertakes what’s known as a rent consultation process BEFORE our Board meet to decide what the rent should be in the coming financial year.
All housing associations set new rent levels each year to ensure they remain financially viable and to further ensure we can meet our financial obligations on such things that really matter to you such as repairs.
Keeping rents affordable is a priority and we know from your feedback that a good repairs service is also extremely important.
We have always been an organisation which places great emphasis on listening to our tenants and that’s why we are keen to receive your feedback on what we are proposing on rents going forward.
We would value your opinion very much so that the Board can take into account what you are saying.
Investing in Your Homes
We are now well into our second year of upgrading re-wiring, increasing fire safety, and replacing bathrooms, external and internal doors in the older Foxbar properties. We know that good bathrooms are a priority for many tenants. Our new ones now have “over bath showers” and wet walls.
Our consultation for next year’s programme will be focused on the completion of this work in the final 136 of these 400 homes - and on making sure that over 800 homes are also brought up to the new Scottish Government’s fire safety standard by March 2021 by increasing their fire detection measures.
Our aim is to balance what tenants most want done, with our commitment to keep homes well maintained and above all, safe.
What Do We mean by “Service Charges”
Service charges which are referred to in your letter and the information sheet are calculated separately from your rent. These are services known as bulk uplift in relation to refuse collection not covered by the Council, close cleaning and garden maintenance.
Inevitably, these costs rise each year and this has to be reflected in the charge made. Please remember that Paisley Housing Association makes no money from the service charge. While it is always unwelcome when prices go up, we know gardens have to be kept neat and tidy, closes clean and streets cannot be left cluttered with bulky items which are no longer wanted.
In our most recent customer service survey 88% of you were satisfied with garden maintenance, 89% were satisfied with close cleaning and 93% were satisfied with the bulk uplift process.
What to do now.
Along with your consultation letter you will find a return slip which we encourage you to complete so our Board know your views. Alternatively, you can respond here.
Here are some of the other methods of replying:
By email to Lorna Gilroy, our Head of Housing on lorna.gilroy@paisleyha.org.uk
By phone to Lorna Gilroy on 0141 583 4103 (direct line)
PLEASE SEND US YOUR VIEWS NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 21
