U-turn over rent rise after residents’ protest threat
A HOUSING association has cut rent increases after tenants threatened a protest.
Govanhill Housing Association had planned to hike rent prices by 3.9 per cent when other housing associations were looking at rises of two and three per cent.
As told in the Evening Times in February, residents arranged a petition against the scheme and a static demonstration was planned for this week.
But now the association has decided to cut the increase to 2.9 per cent.
However, locals said they were still not happy with the rise and a demonstration on Thursday will still go ahead.
Chairman of the Management Committee, John McLardie, said: “Before any decision on rent increases was taken, the association wrote to all our tenants to consult on increasing the rent by 3.9 per cent.
“The vast majority of those who responded agreed with increasing the rents at or above this level.
“We are aware of some of the objections to this increase in the wider community, and we appreciate that any increase is difficult for tenants.
“At this month’s meeting the Management Committee agreed a lower increase of 2.9 per cent, which for the second year running is lower than the level of inflation.”
But Siraj Ahmad, who organised a petition against the rise, said the cut was not enough.
Mr Ahmad has contacted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, written to the Scottish Government and has vowed to continue his protest.
He said: “The rents are still too high compared with other areas of the city and with looking at the difficult issues we have to live with in Govanhill.
“There should be no rent increase at all.
“Our protest will still go ahead.”
Govanhill Housing Association is a community-controlled and owned housing association, managing more than 2500 homes and providing a factoring service to a further 1400 owners.
The association was estab- lished in 1974 and is managed by residents living in the area.
Mr McLardie pointed to a recent tenant satisfaction survey that showed 84.4 per cent of residents surveyed said the rent represents good value for money
He added: “As a tenant of the association, it is particularly important to me that our homes are well maintained and affordable.
“Every year, the associa- tion spends large sums of money on improvements, such as new heating systems, double-glazed windows and new kitchens.
“Without increasing rents, we would be unable to improve our properties and meet our costs.
“We are pleased that we have been able to limit the rent increase for a second year running while continuing to offer a high level of service.”