Proposed rent increase consultation begins

Letters are being sent to all Orkney Islands Council’s council house tenants seeking views on a proposed rent increase for 2022-2023.

The Council is keen to gauge people’s opinions on the proposed rise of 2.6 per cent, particularly during these ongoing additionally challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letters will include an explanatory leaflet and the survey forms, which require to be filled in and returned in prepaid envelopes to Orkney Islands Council by 17:00 on Friday 17 December 2021.

There are a number of factors which can lead to a rise in rental rates:

• To cover increases in the cost of managing and maintaining Orkney Islands Council’s housing stock.
• Ensure the Scottish Housing Quality Standard continues to be met.
• Ensure the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing and further standards continue to be met within timescales.
• To cover the cost of borrowing money to finance the new-build programme.

This year due to the rising cost of maintaining and improving properties there is a need for a rental increase but we have endeavoured to keep it below the Consumer Price Index, which was 3.1 per cent in September.

The Council’s House Build Programme has developed 266 properties to date since development was restarted in 2010. An additional 8 properties are due for completion in early 2022.

Frances Troup, The Council’s Head of Community Learning, Leisure and Housing said: “We are more aware than ever of the very difficult financial position being faced by some in these very difficult times. We would appeal to our tenants to share their opinions via the survey forms, and thereafter the feedback will be contained within a report to go before elected members at the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee in February 2022.

“We have provided an explanatory leaflet and we are happy to arrange telephone appointments to discuss further.”

Chair of the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “There is a significant need for the new-build programme and renovation programmes to ensure quality homes for the communities across Orkney.

“It is important that our rents are affordable and as such I urge tenants to complete the survey to aid elected members in their decision-making process on setting rents.

“We, very much, do acknowledge the financial and emotional strains being placed on so many during these unprecedented times and would ask that anyone finding themselves in difficulty get in touch to discuss at the earliest opportunity.