Have Your Say
Every year housing associations review their budgets, with the majority setting rents from 1st April. A key part of this process is consulting with tenants on what rent and service charge levels are set.
At Partick Housing Association (PHA), we have started our statutory consultation and we would like your views on our rent and service charges for next year. Your feedback is an essential part of our decision-making process, so please take a few moments to read the available information and respond to our survey to have your say.
Rent consultation sessions this year are taking place as follows:
Thursday 7 December in Partick Housing Association’s Board Room, 18 Mansfield Street, G11 5QP
Session 1: 3:30pm to 5pm
Session 2: 6pm to 7:30pm
Each session will consist of a presentation from Director of Finance, John McIntyre followed by a Q and A session with Housing Manager, Michael Monaghan, Investment Director, John Duncan and Communications and Engagement Officer, Anthony Coia.
Information about how we spend your rent is provided below. We’ve also answered some frequently asked questions and provided some useful links. We recommend you read this before taking our survey. Complete our survey to be entered into a prize draw to WIN a £25 shopping voucher.
PHA owns and manages more than 1,800 social rented homes. We look to make the best possible use of
your rent. But just how do we spend it? The below document highlights some of the services we provide with the money you pay.
Why do rent charges need to change?
Every year we review your rent charges and how we spend your money.
We want our rents and service charges to stay affordable and reasonable. As we are reviewing our budgets, we are looking at some tough decisions. We are looking at how we can balance increasing costs, prioritise what we do, invest in homes, and manage how we keep our rents affordable for our tenants.
What about the cost of living crisis?
The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone in different ways and we appreciate that this past year has been particularly challenging. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and we understand that some tenants may be worried about balancing growing costs with limited money.
The cost of living situation affecting our tenants, and the many inflationary pressures which the Association has been facing, make it especially critical that our consultation with you tries to find the right balance between rent affordability and the need to maintain our services and continue investing in our homes. This includes things like replacing kitchens and bathrooms, and further improving the energy efficiency of your homes to help limit your energy costs.
We are committed to supporting our customers, and continue to provide our free, confidential and independent money advice service through our Money Advice Officer, Stephen Lawson. We also offer support through projects like our Food and Fuel Project – providing emergency food packages, cozy packs and fuel vouchers to help customers facing financial hardship help with their gas and electricity bills.
For those tenants eligible for assistance with your rent, any rent increase will be reflected within your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
How will the two phased consultation work?
This year, we are consulting our tenants in two phases.
In Phase 1 we will share information about the services we deliver, and how your rent money is spent. We want to learn more about what your priorities are as a tenant. This will help us to understand what is important to you, and will inform where we can look to make savings.
Phase 1 commences in November 2023, and includes in-person consultation events on 7 December and a customer survey. The survey closes on Friday 15 December 2023.
Phase 2 will commence mid-January and we will contact tenants again on the level of rent increase we propose.
What happens next?
PHA’s Board will review all feedback and consider the costs of service delivery before making a decision on our 2024-25 rent levels. We will write to you in February 2024 to let you know what your rent and any service charges will be for 2024-25.
Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Bill 2022: overview
We welcome all comments about our work, to help us improve.
When we do something well, it’s great to get compliments, positive recognition and praise.
To get in touch with us regarding any issues please click below: