Angry residents hit out at social housing rents hike
RESIDENTS are calling on a housing association to scrap a proposed rent increase.
Govanhill Housing Association has consulted with tenants over introducing a 3.9 per cent rise from April.
In a consultation document sent to residents, the association said it had considered a 4.9 per cent increase but would cap the rise at 3.9 per cent.
However, one resident has begun a campaign asking the association to freeze rents.
And he is looking for other tenants to get on board.
Siraj Ahmad, who is behind the petition, has lived in Govanhill since 2005 and been a Govanhill Housing Association tenant since 2011.
He said: “We have noticed every year that the housing association runs a consultation about rent increases and asks for tenant’s views but every time the increases go ahead anyway.
“If you look at the market, Govanhill Housing Association is suggest- ing a higher rent increase than anywhere else.
“Ten years ago, the rent on a one-bedroomed flat was around £175 a month and now it is around £350.
“Our wages are not going up in line with inflation but our rent is – it leaves people in a difficult financial position.”
In its consultation paper, Govanhill HA said similar housing associa- tions are looking at a rent increase of two to three per cent.
In previously years, the association has increased rents in line with inflation and added one per cent on top.
This year, with inflation high at 3.9 per cent, the association’s management committee said it would cap the increase and not add the extra per cent.
Rents for the coming year for a one-bedroomed flat will rise from £79.13 to £82.22, around the same price as privately-rented flats available in the area.
Last year, Glasgow Housing Association, Scotland’s largest, increased rents by 2.4 per cent, making a one-bedroomed flat £72.20 a week.
Although the consultation period closed on February 9, Mr Ahmad is hoping there is still time to influence the management committee’s decision.
Local councillor Soryia Siddique is offering support to residents. She said: “Govanhill is a pressurised area known for over crowded housing and poverty. There is a significant demand for social housing and larger properties in the area.
“I have been contacted with concerns related to proposed rent increases, which I have raised with Govanhill Housing Association.”
The Association’s chairman John McLardie said: “The costs of running the association increase each year due to inflation; this means that we have to consider increasing the rents that we charge each year to keep pace with our costs.
“This is true for all registered social landlords, most of which are currently undergoing the same consultation process on rent increases.
“We are continuing to review our budgets and expected costs for the new financial year to see whether we could make any savings which would enable us to restrict the rate of increase even further.
“The Management Committee recognises that tenants’ incomes are not increasing at the same rate as inflation and we need to do our best to keep our rents affordable.”