Rent Increase Consultation 2024-25

Yorkhill Housing Association is currently reviewing its budget for the next financial year, 2024/25, and the rent charge for our homes is part of this review.

We will always do our best to keep your rents as low as possible. Yorkhill Housing Association tenants continue to enjoy among the lowest average rent charges in the West End of Glasgow. Our rents are usually lower than other housing associations in the area, and substantially lower than private lets.

We recognise that the cost of living crisis will have affected our tenants, and everyone’s bills will be going up. We are no different and unfortunately in order to maintain our services and continue to invest in our homes we must increase our rents. We will always try 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 our homes to help limit your energy costs, and to provide services such as stair cleaning and welfare and money advice.

When deciding on future rent levels we consider the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure of inflation as an indication of our likely costs in the forthcoming year. Last year the Association decided to increase the rent charges by 6.0% at a point where inflation was as high as 11.1%. As this was substantially below-inflation we notified tenants that future increases would be above-inflation to recover this shortfall.

The most recent CPI rate available is 6.7%. As such the Association's Senior Management Team and Management Committee would propose an increase of 7.7% from 1st April 2024.

We would like to hear your views on this rent increase proposal. This consultation is open until Monday 4th December 2023 in order for your views to be considered. All returned comment forms will be entered into a draw and two tenants will receive a £30 shopping voucher.

You can now complete this form online using the form on the right. If you complete the survey online you do not need to return the paper copy, and you will still be entered into the online draw!

If you are struggling to pay your rent, or if you have any money worries, please get in touch as soon as possible. The Association has a Welfare Rights Officer who can provide information and support on a range of benefit issues. Alternatively we can offer a referral to Drumchapel Money Advice Centre for debt or money advice. Both services are free for all tenants. If you would like an appointment for either please contact me as soon as possible.

Furthermore the Association now has an Energy Advisor who will be with us until March 2024. Margaret O'Connor will be able to help all tenants with support for their fuel bills, providing energy efficient appliances, and give practial advice and support, whether you are in receipt of benefits or not. Margaret will be contacting all of our tenants over the coming weeks, however please feel free to get in touch if you would like some assistance sooner.

If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact the office on 0141 285 7910, or administration@yorkhillha.org.