Rent Increase 2020/21 Consultation

Results updated 28 Jul 2021

During September and October 2019 we asked our tenants to tell us what they thought about the 2020/21 rent increase. We gave tenants a choice of three different increases – 2%, 3%, and 4%. To help make an informed choice, we also explained how each option affected improving the services we provide.

A short survey was sent to every tenants’ home, along with a pre-paid envelope for return. We also made the survey available online and posted copies to our Registered Tenants’ Organisations to encourage as many people as possible to give us their views. As an incentive, the Housing Service pledged to donate £1.00 to Strathcarron Hospice for every survey returned. In total, 1463 surveys were returned. This meant we were able to donate £1,463.00 to Strathcarron Hospice.

1463 returns were received to the survey, which is 9% of our tenant population.  This was an increase of 431 on the 2019/20 Rent Increase Consultation, where we received 1032 responses.  87.29% of surveys were received by post, and 12.71%were received online. 

Here’s what our tenants’ told us in the survey:

• 1317 people answered the question about whether their preferred increase, with the results as follows:

Answer	Number	Percentage
Option 1 (2.0%)	655	49.73%
Option 2 (3.0%)	421	31.97%
Option 3 (4.0%)	241	18.30%
TOTAL	1317	100.00%

• 1334 people answered the questions about whether they considered their rent as very good or good value for money. Overall, 64.1% considered it very good or good value.

Rent increase as value for money	Number	Percentage
Strongly agree	217	16.27%
Agree	638	47.83%
Neither agree nor disagree	178	13.34%
Disagree	115	8.62%
Strongly disagree	186	13.94%
TOTAL	1334	100.00%

A rent increase of 3% was approved by Council on 22 January 2020, the papers for this can be viewed here.

Links:

• Committee Papers 22 January 2020