Multi-million pound investment Council housing stock
Last updated | 03/02/2012
A multi-million pound programme of improvement works to Council
housing stock in Perth and Kinross is to be carried out over the
next five years.
Details of the investment were discussed at a meeting of the
Housing and Health Committee on Wednesday 1st February.
Under the proposals the following work will be carried out to
Council houses between 2012-17:
• Central heating renewal - £11.4m
• Double glazing - £5.3m
• Installation of controlled door entry systems -
£2m
• New kitchens and bathrooms - £1.3m
• External fabric works - £7.2m
• Energy efficiency work - £9m
• Replacement of windows in multi-story flats -
£2.4m
Members of the Committee approved this capital investment
programme, which is part of the Housing Revenue Account Strategic
Financial Plan.
A new rent strategy was also agreed. Last year’s rent
strategy approved a five-year increase of inflation (CPI) plus 2%.
Due to the fact that inflation has increased significantly since
then, the rent strategy will be reviewed to reduce the impact on
Council tenants.
The rent strategy for the next five years will
see rent increases of the following amounts:
• 2012/13 - 5.2% (based on the CPI rate in September
2011)
• 2013/14 - 5% (provisional)
• 2014/15 - 5% (provisional)
• 2015/16 - 4% (provisional)
• 2016/17 - 4% (provisional)
This means an average weekly rent increase of £2.84 a
week, giving an average weekly rent of £57.36. This will keep
Perth and Kinross rent levels well below the Scottish national
average, and provide funding for important housing projects such as
new house builds and improvement works.
Housing and Health Convener, Councillor Peter Barrett, said:
ȁC;I am delighted to be able to announce this major programme
of improvement works on our Council housing stock over the next
five years. This work will transform the lives of our tenants.
ȁC;In 2003 the Council adopted a ‘Retention
Plus’ strategy after tenants voted to retain the Council as
their landlord on the condition that improvement would be carried
out to the housing stock. This news underlines the Council's
commitment to its tenants, and to making sure our housing stock is
of the highest quality.
ȁC;The Council has a 30-year Standard Delivery Plan (SDP)
which forms the basis of our proposals to make sure our Council
houses comply with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard in 2015,
which we are on track to achieve.
ȁC;The SDP has already allowed us to invest in major
improvement schemes to refurbish bathrooms, replace kitchens,
install central heating, replace roofs on Council properties and
refurbish garages and lock-ups.
ȁC;Each year our business plan is updated in line with
budgets and economic conditions to make sure the SDP remains
affordable and sustainable. These new rent proposals will allow us
to continue to deliver improvements for our tenants and ensure that
rents remain affordable in Perth and Kinross.
ȁC;It will also allow us to commit to providing much-needed
new build Council housing for people in Perth and Kinross who are
in urgent need of accommodation, and sustain our level of
investment in a range of other housing services our residents want
and need.ȁD;
The Committee also agreed a 5.2% increase in housing service
charges as part of the proposals.
