The Results Are In!

Summary of rent consultation for 2021/22

At the Management Committee meeting on Thursday 17^th December 2020 (Paper 5.4 – Rent Setting), Officers were instructed to complete the annual Rent Consultation, providing tenants and sharing owners with the following two options;

• Option 1 – Increase rent by an average of £0.71 per week (£0.77 per week for sharing owners) to maintain current services.

• Option 2 – Increase rent by an average of £1.25 per week (£1.06 per week for sharing owners), in line with the original Business Plan, to generate additional income to be used to fund HHA Community Projects.

All tenants and sharing owners received a rent consultation survey with a freepost envelope, along with the option of completing the survey online, via the Association’s website. To maximise opportunity for tenants to engage in the process, the consultation remained open until Wednesday 10^th February 2021, giving a full 4 week period of consultation.

Tenants were reminded of our Financial Inclusion Service and encouraged to get in touch if they were struggling financially, or had concerns regarding a change in their income.

Consultation returns

In total, there were 153 responses, which is an increase of 27 on the 126 returned in 2020. Tenants are still choosing to return paper-based surveys, with 95% of those received coming via Royal Mail.

Tenant returns – 141 in total

109 tenants (77%) indicated a preference for option 1

32 tenants indicated (23%) a preference for option 2

Sharing owner returns – 12 in total

11 sharing owners (92%) indicated a preference for option 1

1 sharing owner (8%) indicated a preference for option 2

All returns – 153 in total

78% of respondents indicated a preference for option 1

22% of respondents indicated a preference for option 2

The survey was anonymous, and we are therefore not in a position to respond to these queries directly. However, it is important to consider the issues raised by tenants and we have categorised these below;

Affordability

Four comments relate, in general, to affordability. Affordability was a key consideration for the Management Committee at the meeting on 17^th December 2020, acknowledging the financial pressure on households at present, thus presenting the option of a lower increase. The proposed rent increase remains in line with the Rent Policy, which was approved under item 6.1 of the Management Committee meeting in April 2020. Through support, advice and sign-posting, Officers hope to mitigate any significant impact on tenants, and will work pro-actively at an early stage where tenants do accumulate arrears.

Online communication

One tenant suggests we should be looking to conduct such surveys online, thereby saving postage costs. This is already being considered, and with a full tenant satisfaction survey taking place this year, the intention is to ask all tenants for their preferred methods of contact, using email and online accounts where possible for similar consultations. The Association has already moved the quarterly newsletters to online only, following feedback from the Tenant Focus Group.

Energy efficiency at Setters Hill Estate

This scheme, which was built in 1995, does meet the current requirements, in terms of the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH). In broader terms, we know the very real issues of fuel poverty in Shetland, and provide additional advice to tenants to help mitigate this. Through the Energy Redress Fund, we have, since January 2021, helped distribute just under £2,500 to over 30 tenants.

Gaet-A-Gott street lighting

This area is adopted by Shetland Islands Council roads department, who presided over the original decision on the street lighting provision during the planning process.

Benchmarking against a peer group of social housing landlords

Hjaltland Housing Association – 0.7% increase

Shetland Islands Council – 1% increase

Hebridean Housing Partnership – 1.3% increase

Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association – 1.5% increase

Pentland Housing Association – 1.8% increase

Lochaber Housing Association – 1.9% increase

Orkney Housing Association – 1.10% increase

Cairn Housing Association – 1.10% increase

Highland Council – 3% increase