Feedback from tenants will help to influence housing priorities

Perth and Kinross Council has stated responses received from a tenants’ survey has influenced its housing priorities.

All local authority tenants received a questionnaire in April last year asking their views on rent matters, and their answers are now being used as part of the process to set out future housing budgets.

A report drawn up by council chiefs reveals that the top priority for its tenants is an increase in housing stock for rent – 66% of respondents identified this.

Some 42%, meanwhile, asked the local authority to improve the quality of repairs, and “get them right first time”.

In addition, 35% of tenants asked the council to look at improving sound proofing within their homes, and 33% would like to see better energy efficiency.

The document, which will be discussed by Perth and Kinross Council’s housing and health committee tomorrow, states the local authority owns and manages more than 7,500 houses in the area.

It states that following the tenants’ feedback, the council will continue to invest to increase the supply of affordable housing through new builds in order to meet their target of 400 new builds over the next five years.

It also stressed that Perth and Kinross Council will continue spending money to improve energy efficiency across local authority houses.

The council will also provide additional investment to improve the external fabric of some properties by maintaining roofs.

“The overall feedback received from tenants has influenced the spending priorities identified through the budget setting process,” the report states.