Rent fight set to continue unless answers are given
RENT campaigners have vowed to keep up their fight despite a meeting with housing bosses.
The Say No To Rent Increase campaign held a protest outside Govanhill Housing Association yesterday.
And director Anne Lear invited the group in to the Coplaw Street headquarters to talk over their issues.
But campaign organiser Siraj Ahmad said the fight will continue unless the housing association gives solid reasons for an increase.
He said: “We had a good meeting with Anne Lear but still we have issues in that they are not justifying the need for a rent increase.
“The association has been aggressively increasing the rent every year for the past several years, but we see no benefit from that.
“We will wait to see what they come back with in answer to our questions but if the answers are not satisfactory we will campaign and campaign.”
Govanhill Housing Association had plans to increase rents for its tenants by 3.9 per cent when housing associations across the city were rising rents by two to three per cent.
Earlier this week the association announced it would reduce the increase to 2.9 per cent - but residents are still not satisfied.
A group gathered outside the headquarters of the association yesterday morning.
The chairman of the association’s Management Committee, John McLardie, said rent increases were necessary to maintain properties.
He said: : “Following consultation with tenants, and a detailed review of their responses, the Management Committee agreed at this month’s meeting to a below-inflation rent increase of 2.9 per cent.
“It is the second consecutive year the increase has been lower than the level of inflation.
“We were pleased to have the opportunity to meet a group of concerned tenants and discuss a number of points they raised during a constructive meeting.
“The Management Committee of local residents will consider the issues in detail and respond in due course.
“As a tenant of the Association, it is particularly important to me that our homes are well maintained and affordable.
“Every year, the Association spends large sums of money on improvements, such as new heating systems, double-glazed windows and kitchens for our tenants.
“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 in co-operation with our partners in Govanhill.”