Housing Services Report 2019-2020 published

Orkney Islands Council’s Housing Services Annual Report 2019-2020 has been published and details a strong performance across a number of areas.

The Annual Report looks at how the service is performing in comparison to last year and against similar local authorities – Shetland and Highland - and the Scottish average using national performance measures.

The report details areas in which the service in Orkney is performing well as:

• The properties are in good condition;
• A low number of repairs per property;
• The housing team’s response to homelessness and anti-social behaviour are good;
• Improved satisfaction levels among tenants across the areas of performance.

Chair of Education, Leisure and Housing Committee Councillor Gwenda Shearer said: “The annual report for tenants has grown and developed over the last few years and will continue to do so over the coming years.

“In developing this report we’ve compared performance over the last three years and have highlighted trends. We undertook a tenant satisfaction survey earlier this year and this recorded improved satisfaction levels across the areas of performance.

“Almost 350 survey responses were received from tenants and their level of customer satisfaction has risen to 92 per cent this year – up from 84 per cent on the previous survey which was carried out in 2018.

“Some 93 per cent of tenants felt that they were kept informed about their services and decisions – a rise from 87 per cent previously and 88 per cent of tenants are satisfied with the quality of their home – again a rise from 76 per cent previously.

“Satisfaction rates are also high when it comes to the OIC carrying out repairs and maintenance to people’s properties – sitting at 90 per cent.

“Of course, Orkney Islands Council also faces significant challenges in the form of restricted budgets. While we have delivered a significant programme of newly built housing in recent years, this has now reduced as a result of financial pressure on the Housing Revenue Account and the impact on tenants’ rents.

“Areas where performance could be improved include the time it takes to return empty properties to an appropriate standard so they can be re-let and meeting energy efficiency targets in an area off the gas grid and with a relatively harsh climate.”

The annual report has been published electronically as part of the Council’s response to COVID-19 and the minimisation of handling of paper. For those without access to the internet, paper copies will be available on request.

The Housing Services Annual Report can be viewed here: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/H/housing-services-annual-reports.htm