Council tenants back home repairs
Survey finds most were happy with work
Stirling Council tenants have been given the chance to help shape the authority’s approach to housing.
Stirling Tenants Assembly conducted two surveys to find out what people who live in councilowned properties, which number more than 6000, think about the way repairs are dealt with and homes allocated.
One of the surveys was carried out last year while the other was completed at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018.
Volunteers from the assembly spoke to a random selection of 52 people to find out their views on repairs and 45 new tenants for the survey on allocations.
STA chairperson Hugh McClung told the Observer they offered to do the surveys themselves as they thought tenants were more likely to “open up” to their volunteers than to council officials.
He added: “We asked people whether repairs had been completed satisfactorily, attitude of those carrying out the work, etc.
“People were generally happy and, while there were a few problems, these were taken on board by the council and action taken immediately.”
In the second survey 73 per cent of tenants were satisfied with the overall allocation process, while 71 per cent of tenants were satisfied with the physical condition of their new home when they moved in.
However, a number of ways in which the service could be improved were identified resulting, the council say, in the following actions being agreed: ● Tenant-officer communications group that will assess the kind of information provided to tenants. ● Tenant-led inspection is planned to review the sign-up procedures for new tenants. ● A tenant-officer working group is currently reviewing the council’s lettable standard, which sets out the physical condition that properties should be in when let to tenants.
Mr McClung said: “Hopefully, the changes suggested will make the housing allocation service smoother.
“The council are listening and that is in their favour.”
Council housing portfolio holder Evelyn Tweed, said: “The results of this survey provide an excellent example of how tenant involvement in service reviews is improving outcomes for tenants and applicants and also help ensure that good quality services are being delivered.”
Head of the Scottish Government social housing team Anne Cook said: “By tenants from the Stirling Tenants Assembly talking directly to tenants, it has ensured that applicants give an honest view of their experience of the allocations process and helps to identify any further improvements that could be made.”
Council staff are planning a series of joint activities with the STA to promote tenant participation within housing services.
STA members have agreed to undertake another telephone survey on a different part of the housing service before 2020.