Improvements could be on the cards for homes
More than 1,200 council homes in Renfrewshire will benefit from improvements in the coming year if councillors agree to Renfrewshire’s housing budget and capital plan next week.
Investment of £41 million is proposed for the next financial year (2024 to 2025) for improvements including new kitchens and bathrooms, more energy efficient heating systems, replacement windows and roof repairs.
Some 700 homes would benefit from external upgrades covering cladding, guttering, roofs and windows, while a further 220 would see kitchen and bathroom improvements and electrical rewiring.
New energy efficient heating systems will be added at 300 properties and the funds will also be used to build new council houses and carry out improvements at high rise buildings and sheltered housing.
It’s part of a five-year investment totalling £281m which is set out in a detailed report being considered by Renfrewshire councillors when they meet to consider the council’s budget on Thursday.
Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s communities and housing policy board, said: “I’m really pleased that despite such a difficult financial climate we’re able to put forward a plan which continues our commitment to modernise and improve council housing right across Renfrewshire.
“This includes the large-scale regeneration and renewal programme benefiting 1,100 homes across eight areas.
“We’ve built more than 320 newbuild council homes in recent years, bringing people immense pride and joy, many with gardens and spacious kitchen and dining areas.
“More new homes are planned, strengthening communities and creating warm and welcoming places to live.”
New council housing has been built in Bishopton, Johnstone and Ferguslie
Park in Paisley, while work is progressing on the £100m 10year housing-led regeneration and renewal programme.
This programme, across eight areas, is delivering modern, high quality affordable council housing by improving current homes and building new ones.
The council is landlord to 12,000 homes, providing tenants with a wide range of services including responsive repairs and compliance checks to meet the latest safety standards alongside dedicated housing officers and concierge staff on hand for support and advice.
Detailed consultation with more than 1,440 tenants on rent levels and their priorities sees the report set out plans for a six per cent increase in rent levels, equivalent to an average of £5.45 more a week.
Despite this increase, the housing service faces significant financial pressure in the years ahead including the impact of inflation, material costs and availability.
Councillor McGurk added: “Our housing service faces significant challenges to deliver a budget which maintains the levels of investment and service our tenants want.
“I completely understand the challenges so many people are facing through the cost of living and proposing any rent increase is always a very difficult decision.
“We’ve listened to what our tenants have told us and their priorities for our investment. “The proposed increase aims to remain among the lowest rental levels compared with housing associations in Renfrewshire and for more than three-quarters of our tenants, this increase is absorbed by housing benefit entitlement.
“However, if anyone is struggling to pay their rent we have specialist support available including a tenant support fund.”