South Lanarkshire councillors agreed to recommend a rise in rent to the full council today.
At the housing and technical resources committee meeting today (January 19), councillors endorsed the decision to propose a 2.2 per cent increase to all council houses, gypsy / traveller sites, lock-ups and garage sites to the executive committee.
The proposed idea has been consulted with council house tenants who were supportive of continuing the temporary move from settling rents on a multi-year basis which will reflect the ongoing uncertainty caused by COVID.
The rent increase of 2.2 per cent is proposed for the upcoming financial year of 2022/2023 and will acknowledge financial uncertainty that faces tenants.
A survey conducted to gain feedback from tenants showed some favour towards the rent increase.
The survey, which was promoted online and completed by 1133 tenants revealed that 46 per cent of respondents supported the rent level increase and 74 per cent were supportive of setting the rent level for a further single year.
A total of 68 per cent of respondents believed that the rent they pay represents good or very good value for money and 90 per cent strongly agreed or agreed that investment priorities of the council were the right ones.
The turnout of the survey was questioned today due to a low number of respondents representing all council tenants.
There are approximately 25,000 council tenants and only 4.5 per cent of those responded to the survey.
Councillor Allan Falconer for Hamilton West and Earnock, said: “So, if we have 25,000 houses and we have 1133 surveys completed, that is a very low percentage.
“I notice in most of the council consultations we do we have a low percentage.
“But that is an awfully low percentage.”
Chair of the Housing and Technical Resources Committee, Josh Wilson, said: “Five years ago, when we came into administration, we were getting in the region of 200 responses to consultations.
“In the current climate where it is difficult to engage with folk face to face, I think that it is good progress we’ve made since those days and getting above 1000.
“Obviously our aspiration is to go further but I think the work that the tenants groups have done along with the housing staff should be welcomed.”
Now that the decision has been moved by the committee, it will go to full council for further debate and a final decision will be made.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
