Consultation Results for 2022/23 Rent levels

At the Hjaltland Housing Association Management Committee meeting on Thursday 16^th December 2021, staff members were asked to complete the annual Rent Consultation, providing tenants with the following two options;

• Option 1 – Increase rent by an average of £3.34 per week to maintain current services.

• Option 2 – Increase rent by an average of £3.97 per week to generate an additional £27,000 to help the Association work towards the 2032 energy efficiency targets

Rent Consultation returns

The rent consultation was live for three weeks, closing on Friday 4^th February 2022. In total, there were 91 responses, a significant decrease on the 153 returned in 2021. The results of the consultation were as follows;

• 72 responses in favour of Option 1 (80%)
• 16 responses in favour of Option 2 (18%)
• 3 with nil response (no rent increase noted) (2%)

Just under 9% of all tenants who responded to this rent consultation survey identified some concerns regarding affordability and requested further assistance. The Association’s Financial Inclusion Officer will now be reaching out to these households with an offer of additional support and signposting.

Benchmarking proposed rent increase against a peer group of social housing landlords

Shetland Islands Council – no increase

Highland Council – 1% increase

Hjaltland Housing Association – 3.5% increase

Cairn Housing Association – 3.6% increase

Lochaber Housing Association – 3.9% increase

Orkney Housing Association – 3.9% increase

Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association – 4.1% increase

At the Management Committee meeting on Thursday 17^th February 2022, members debated the proposed rent increase and in line with the consultation feedback, the committee approved Option One. All tenants and sharing owners will receive written notification of their new rent and service level in time for the rent increase, which will take effect as of 1^st April 2022.

The Association would like to remind all tenants that support is always available and Officers can be contacted on 01595 69 4986.