Complete the survey for the chance to win one of 3 x £75 shopping vouchers!
Your Opinion Matters – Rent Increase Options for Next Year At Glen Oaks, we greatly value your opinion and believe it is crucial to involve our communities in decisions that impact us all. Every year, around this time, we need to talk to you about the rent we are considering charging for the following You have until year and how we plan to budget that 8 January 2024 to income so we can continue to invest submit your views. in our properties and provide value for money services to you. Last year we gave three rent options, all below inflation. We listened to your views and our Board agreed on the lowest rent increase option of 6%. We had explained that going ahead with the lower increase would result in future increases of inflation plus 1% (for 5 years). Currently this would mean a rent increase of 5.6% on 1 April 2024.
continue to take into account the financial difficulties many of you still face. Also, we need to reflect the recent decrease in inflation. As a result, we want to consider a more modest increase. It is important that we can continue to make improvements to our homes and deliver services that will make a difference to you, while keeping rents affordable.
However, as we plan ahead, we want to act on the feedback you gave last year and
This year we kindly ask you to consider two options for the proposed rent increase from 1 April 2024: 5% or 4%.
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How do the different increase options affect our plans for next year? Option 1 – 5% increase Opting for a 5% increase would enable us to invest in our properties and enhance the living conditions for many in our communities. This increase would fund the following in 2024/2025:
140 Kitchens
144 homes with new windows
30 Bathrooms
In addition to this we would try to bring forward some additional kitchen and bathroom replacements into 2024/25 and 2025/26.
24 Close doors
34 Door entry systems
We will also continue to provide our welfare rights service, energy and debt advice and many additional support services.
Option 2 – 4% increase Opting for a 4% increase would still enable us to enhance the living conditions for many in our communities and would fund the following in 2024/2025:
89 Kitchens
0 Bathrooms
144 homes with new windows
However, the lower increase would mean a delay in the replacement of bathrooms this year. This reduction also means that the Association has £3 million less to invest in our properties in future years and it will
24 Close doors
34 Door entry systems
take us longer to carry out the planned investment works needed in our homes. We will continue to provide our welfare rights service, energy and debt advice and many additional support services.
You have until 8 January 2024 to submit your views.
2
What does all this mean for you and the rent you will pay? We understand that some tenants will find a rent increase difficult to afford. The table below shows examples of how much your rent might increase depending on the increase option chosen. Apartment size
Current average rent per week
With 5% new average rent per week
With 4% new average rent per week
With 5% additional cost per week
With 4% additional cost per week
2 apartment
£92.46
£97.08
£96.12
£4.62
£3.66
3 apartment
£98.04
£102.94
£101.96
£4.90
£3.92
4 apartment
£106.50
£111.82
£110.76
£5.32
£4.26
5 apartment
£131.42
£137.99
£136.68
£6.57
£5.26
If you have any concerns about your tenancy or affordability with the rent, your Housing Officer or our Welfare Rights Team are here to help. Contact us on 0141 620 2722 or 0141 638 0999 (option 3).
You have until 8 January 2024 to submit your views.
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1.4p
What does your rent pay for?
31.7p
Interest and Loan repayments
28.5p
Day to Day Repairs
11.9p
Planned Maintenance and Improvements
9.6p
Cyclical Works
6.8p
Service Costs
3.9p
Wider Action/Wider Role
3.2p
Other Costs (bad debts etc)
1.6p
Investment in New Properties
1.4p
Factoring Costs
1p
Other Fixed Assets
0.4p
3.2p 3.9p 6.8p
£163,000
31.7p
9.6p
11.9p
In 2022/23 we carried out the following: 83 Empty homes being brought up to the lettable standard
0.4p
1.6p
How we spend every £1 of your money Cost of Delivering Services (staff,offices, Gold Service, etc)
1p
External works
5176 Routine repairs
£190,000
£620,000
511 Electrical installation condition reports
327 Smoke and heat detection upgrades
37 Medical adaptations
11 Central heating boilers
£60,000
28.5p
You have until 8 January 2024 to submit your views.
1490 Gas safety checks
£69,000
£15,000
£106,000
£37,000
This is just some of the work we have completed to ensure your homes are well maintained and meet safety standards.
maintenance, close cleaning and bulk uplift. This year we reviewed staff roles and created the post of Estate Co-ordinator, who will work closely with you to improve the appearance of our communities.
We also carry out cyclical maintenance which includes gutter cleaning, legionella water maintenance, landscape
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You have until 8 January 2024 to submit your views.
How we invest in your community in other ways
We want to highlight the additional support we have been able to provide in the past year. Our dedicated team assisted 779 tenants in a variety of ways. This included:
£8,488
104
1,038
132
180
32
173
50
£1 million boost to tenants benefits and income.
Food and fuel vouchers issued
Tablets in our Digital Lending Library
I really at out appreciate th ilies you of all the fam re always have, you a r me looking out fo me. and helping
Energy savings for tenants
Winter clothing and bedding issued
Referrals to specialist advice
The staff this proje in ct have changed my life fo r the better – they help ed me ever y time I needed help.
I learned so much about my spending habits fro m my budgeting appointment and am now managin g my money so much b etter, instead of b orrowing constantly. I’m re commending the service to all my friends.
Tenants received Digital learning support
Classes & activities and 5 events
Free sim cards and mifi issued
We all massive ly apprecia te th eh from eve ryone! Th elp ey have gone ab ove and beyond help my to dad ove r the yea from wa rs shin and coo g machines kers, lea rn how to u se a com ing puter, voucher s and everythin g else.
If you think you would benefit from some of our additional services or want to join our clubs etc, your Housing Officer or our Welfare Rights Team are here to help. Contact us on 0141 620 2722 or 0141 638 0999 (option 3).
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What is happening this year? 36 homes with new windows and doors
External works
Our maintenance and improvement costs for April 2023 – March 2024 are:
£170,000
Based on the 6% rent increase last year, we are continuing to invest in our properties and, by using your feedback, make sure our plans reflect your priorities.
24 Bathrooms
£85,000
Routine repairs
£660,000
You have until 8 January 2024 to submit your views.
£500,000
Gas safety and electrical testing
£180,000 91 Kitchens
£430,000
What your feedback told us We are committed to ensuring the services we deliver meet your needs. Recently we carried out a community regeneration survey and asked you to prioritise what is important to you. In the survey we outlined the three aspects of community regeneration:
SOCIAL – tackling social
issues such as loneliness and isolation in our communities by creating opportunities for our tenants to become more involved and live happier, more fulfilled lives.
ECONOMIC – creating
opportunities to maximise the income within our communities, unlocking the potential for positive contributions to society.
PHYSICAL – to create
attractive locations to live by making physical changes to the environment, buildings, land and infrastructure.
Your feedback told us that many of the services we currently provide tie in well with your top five priorities. We will use the results of the survey to develop our services further in the coming year. Make sure you read our quarterly Newsletter for more information on our plans and services.
on Financial inclusi ts i.e. welfare righ service
Support for vulnera ble tenants
Children and young people
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Mental health
Vacant and derelict buildings
Have your say, what do you think? Your feedback is invaluable in helping us strike the right balance between improvements and maintaining essential services. We encourage you to share your thoughts on the proposed rent increase by Monday 8 January at 5pm. Your voice matters and, together, we can continue to build thriving and supportive communities.
received on the rent increase options and make an informed decision. We will share the feedback with you and tell you what your rent will be from 1 April 2024. Everyone who replies to this consultation will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win one of 3 x £75 shopping vouchers.
We will be happy to answer any questions We have tried to make the rent you may have at a couple of information consultation as accessible as possible so sessions in our office at 3 Kilmuir Drive, Arden you can provide your feedback by: on: • SMS • Tuesday 12 December - 10am -1pm, • Email • Thursday 14 December - 4pm – 7pm • Phone (0141 620 2722) • Post You have until In January the Board will receive a detailed 8 January 2024 to report on all the feedback we have
submit your views.
Please provide your name and address if you are submitting your response into our office. It is important we can verify you are a tenant, so that the results are representative. Name Address 1. Please tick your preferred option.
Option 1: 5%
Option 2: 4%
2. Do you have any comments about the option you have selected?
3. What do you think is the most important service Glen Oaks HA provides to you, or our tenants as a whole?
4. In the last 12 months, have you experienced difficulty paying your rent? Yes
No
5. Are you happy for us to contact you about this and discuss how we may be able to help you?
Yes
No
6. Would you like to be involved in our Service Improvement Group to help shape our priorities and deliver value for money for all tenants?
Yes
No
Thank you for taking part in our rent increase consultation. 7
Contact Us Glen Oaks Housing Association Limited, 3 Kilmuir Drive, Arden, Glasgow, G46 8BW SMS
0141 638 0999 go@glenoaks.org.uk
07860 027 496
www.glenoaks.org.uk
Glenoakshousing
@GlenOaksHousing
Our office opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 9am - 5pm Wednesday: 9am - 1pm Friday: 9am - 4pm Our office is closed for staff training from 1pm every Wednesday.
Charity No. SCO34301
Financial Services Authority Reg No: 2402R(S)
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Scottish Housing Regulator No: HCB24