Rent Increase 2025-26
This year our tenants were consulted on 2 rent increases: 6.75% and 7.50%. 25% of WGHC tenants responded.
This is the highest volume of respondents to a rent consultation in the history of the Co-op. Of the tenants that responded, 55% opted for the higher, 7.50% rent increase.
However, on 19th February 2025, the Committee of Management met and having given the matter due consideration and accepting the cost of living situation facing all WGHC tenants, decided to implement the lower of the rent increase options, i.e. 6.75%.
The rent increase of 6.75% was approved. WGHC continues to offer one of the lowest rents for a social landlord in the Edinburgh area.
All rent payments are due on a weekly basis or by payment in advance. You can choose to pay your rent by monthly direct debit (payments will be taken on the 1st day of each month), cash or debit card in the office, over the phone by debit card or bank standing order.
As always, if you wish to discuss changes or payment options, please contact the Housing Management Team on 0131 551 5035 or alternatively you can email the team at hm@westgrantonhc.co.uk
We are aware that the cost of living crisis is impacting people in various ways and we are trying our best to provide real help to those that most need it. If you are worried or struggling with your rent, please contact the office. We are not here to judge you, we are here to help you, but equally, it is important you do engage with us if you are experiencing difficulties so as to prevent putting your tenancy at risk.
WGHC AGM
Saturday 6th September 2025
Following the successes of the last 2 years of holding the AGM on a Saturday, the WGHC Annual General Meeting will be held at the Prentice Centre on Saturday 6th September 2025 at 11.00hrs (doors open at 10.00hrs for complimentary breakfast rolls and tea & coffee) (Maybe other ‘prizes’ / gifts / vouchers too?)
For the AGM to take place, we need 40 members to attend. This is YOUR Co-op. YOU are all members. Please, please, can you try to spare 1 hour to attend the AGM – it’s only once a year! Without your support, the Co-op could fail. This year, more than most, we really need as many tenants as possible to attend.
The main purpose of the AGM is to present West Granton Housing Co-op’s financial position at the end of the year and our future plans to all our members. There is also a question and answer session at the end of the meeting where members can ask staff about our work and pass on their comments or suggestions. All tenants are members and are invited to the AGM. Further details, along with how you can join the Committee, will be sent out in early Summer.
SAVE THE DATE – Saturday 6th September, 11.00 to 12.00 (doors open from 10.00hrs)
Potential Cladding Issue
The new Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act came into effect on 6th January 2025. Whilst many of the flammable materials in cladding had already been banned in Scotland since 2005, under this new Act, we are required to carry out both a Fire Risk Assessment and a Single Building Assessment on any of our buildings that have, or may have, cladding.
In accordance with the Act, WGHC have appointed specialist surveyors from Diamond & Co. / Brooker Diamond to undertake a full inspection and assessment of our 45 flats at the Forthquarter Development (Colonsay Close and Waterfront Park). These will help identify any risks in the event of a fire and also give recommendations about works we might need to undertake to help mitigate any such risks. One example of this might to be to remove the cladding.
The ‘whole’ building is split into 2 halves. 45 of the flats are owned by WGHC. 45 of the flats are owned by the Wheatley Group, who are also currently undertaking a similar exercise with the flats on their half of the building.
Tenant safety is of the utmost importance and concern to WGHC and if there is a requirement to remove cladding or undertake any other remediation works, we will write to all affected tenants and in addition, publish further newsletters or website articles. If you are worried about your home, whether it is affected and what is likely to happen, please contact the office, 0131 551 5035 and ask to speak with either the COO or CEO.
Harbour Connections
Some tenants have asked us who are Harbour Connections – as their vans are often in and around our estates.
Harbour Homes (formerly Port of Leith Housing association) is made up of 4 entities:
➜ Harbour Homes, the registered social landlord and charity
➜ Harbour Lettings, a private rented sector letting agent
➜ Harbour Connections, a community initiatives / social enterprise company
➜ Harbour Multi-Trades, an energy services, repairs and maintenance company
Harbour Connections provide stair cleaning services, litter picking/estate cleaning and end of tenancy clearances to WGHC and were engaged via the Archie partnership.
Crime or Anti-Social Behaviour,
If you know about it, report it
WGHC is a fully mutual co-operative. Only WGHC tenants can be members and your membership is confirmed with a shareholder certificate. All tenants each own one share of the Co-operative.
We are aware of increased reports of both anti-social behaviour and incidents of criminality within the estate. Although the properties are owned by WGHC, they are your homes and this is your community. Whilst we look to keep the area as safe and as attractive as possible, we rely on WGHC tenants to report any incidences of concern to both the office and Police Scotland. However, we recognise that often tenants do not wish to report incidents for fear of reprisals. In such cases, we strongly urge reports to be made anonymously to Crimestoppers.
For those tenants that do report incidents to us, WGHC staff have access to The Criminal Justice Secure Email (CJSM) system and this enables the communication of confidential and sensitive information between WGHC and other organisations in the criminal justice system.
In 2024, Crimestoppers Scotland received a record 18,000 contacts about crime from the Scottish public, an increase of 7% compared to 2023, with 78% of the information deemed “actionable intelligence”. Crimestoppers ensures anonymity for those who report crime, with information passed to the relevant authorities without revealing the identity of the informant.
Glendale (WGHC Grounds Maintenance Contractor)
After 16 years, our grounds maintenance contractor, Kerax, will be replaced by Glendale. An open tender was advertised on Public Contracts Scotland and the contract was awarded to Glendale Managed Services (Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance).
Glendale’s local office is based at West Craigs Industrial Estate just before the entrance to the ‘old’ Turnhouse Airport – approx. 20/25 minutes away from the WGHC estate.
Glendale have been awarded the contract for a period of 3 years.
WGHC have always been aware that the cost of the grounds maintenance contract was going to increase quite significantly compared to the last few years with Kerax, due to cost of materials, fuel, equipment maintenance and labour hourly rates etc.
In addition to estate grass cutting, shrub maintenance, tree maintenance / pruning and all the areas around the estate within the ‘blue railings’ Glendale will also deliver the garden aid service to qualifying tenants during the 2025 cutting season with 12 cuts planned between April and October. Weedkiller will be applied once within each growing season.
Glendale
offers outstanding Grounds Management Services
and can provide a tailored solution to best
suit your requirements
We have completed wide-ranging grounds management projects since 1990. From grass cutting and hedge trimming to shrub care and weed control, our operatives can undertake virtually any work to keep your green spaces looking their best. Glendale’s teams are multi-skilled and can complete all tasks on the first visit.
Our employees undergo rigorous training regimes, including both equipment orientation and health and safety courses. Their training also includes industry-recognised qualifications and horticultural mastery. This level of preparation and attention to detail helps us to consistently deliver first-class grounds management services and green space solutions to our customers nationwide.
Grass Service Strips
As a side note, after almost 30 years, the City of Edinburgh Council have confirmed they will cease providing grass cutting services and maintenance to the various grassed service strips within Granton Mains Brae, Court, Vale and Wynd. As such, Glendale
have been separately approached to provide this service within the growing season, offering 7 cuts per year, i.e. monthly basis. We have also asked Glendale to attend to some tree surgery around the WGHC estate.
Leylandii Tree Removal
After many years, the 55ft Leylandii trees on the border of the WGHC estate between West Pilton and the back of Granton Mill Crescent and Drive, Granton Mains Gait, Vale and Brae have been
removed by the City of Edinburgh Council. This will dramatically improve light to many WGHC tenant gardens and remove / reduce much of the damp and algae.
Scotmid, a local co-operative from which you can benefit
Co-operatives are owned and run by their members, for their members. As well as giving members an equal say and share of ownership, a co-operative works together to meet their common needs and goals. (Like WGHC)
Being a co-operative is what makes Scotmid Co-operative different from other businesses. Instead of making profits for shareholders, they aim to provide the best possible services for their members and invest back into the communities where they live.
New members receive a Scotmid bag for life, welcome vouchers to spend in store and a Community Connect
Card – scan the card every time you shop to earn money off vouchers and to be entered into monthly prize draws. Members also receive Scotmid’s bi-annual member magazine, Jigsaw, which includes exclusive special offers, competitions and Scotmid vouchers to use in store.
Membership can be done in store or via the website and costs… only £1!!
https://scotmid.coop/membership/application-form/
Asset Management Visits
We have previously advised in past newsletters that we will visit your home once every 2 years to undertake an asset management visit.
The purpose of the visit is to check:
➜ the external condition of the property, walls, windows, rising damp, brickwork, guttering, roofing, garden and pathways etc.
➜ the internal condition of the property, i.e. walls, ceilings, floors, lighting, smoke detectors, fuse board, boiler, heating controls, fitted kitchen, flooring, bathroom suite, extractor fans, attic space and stairs (if applicable) – to ensure there is no damage, damp or mould and no hazards that may harm you as our tenant.
Annual Gas Safety Checks
Tenants are respectfully reminded that we have a legal duty to undertake an annual gas safety check within every WGHC property. This is the law. Please assist us in this matter by allowing our gas contractor access once a year to undertake this statutory task. Thank you in anticipation.
We are not assessing how you live or your personal choice of decoration. We are looking to find out whether any work is required to be undertaken within, or to, the property. To help us do this, we will take ‘generic’ (non-personal) photos of the condition of the above listed areas or items.
We will require your assistance to allow us to access your home to perform the visit that will be undertaken every 2 years. It is a vital element to our overall strategy of protecting your home and ensuring we are compliant with ever changing housing and safety legislation.
“Cost of Living” Workshop exclusively for WGHC Tenants
WGHC are working with the Royal Bank of Scotland to deliver a short 45 minute workshop to help tenants with their financial skills and confidence with money. This short session will cover:
➜ What is the Cost of Living squeeze?
➜ Budgeting Methods – 7 Steps to Budgeting
➜ Managing Debt / Debt Spiral – 5 Steps to Take
➜ Planning for the unexpected
Each tenant who attends will also receive a free goodie bag of surprises worth £25!
If you are interested, don’t delay as numbers are limited to 15 places only.
Contact us at mail@westgrantonhousing.co.uk quoting “Cost of Living Workshop” Alternatively phone our office on 0131 551 5035
WGHC Public Holidays (2025-2026)
Easter is in 3 weeks!
WGHC strives to keep tenants informed and to be available to them and to help as required. Many social landlords in the sector are now either working shorter weeks or a hybrid system (office and home working). We don’t see how we can offer the service in accordance with the Tenant Service Charter if we’re not all in the office to help you, our tenants.
Easter
Good Friday 18th April 2025
Easter Monday 21st April 2025
Spring Holiday
Friday 23 May 2025
Monday 26 May 2025
September Weekend
Friday 19 September 2025
Monday 22 September 2025
However, we do take time to re-charge our batteries using Bank Holidays and Annual Leave entitlements. The planned Bank Holiday and office closures are printed here – cut this out and stick it on your fridge! The holidays will also be published on our website.
Christmas
Wednesday 24 December 2025
Thursday 25 December 2025
Friday 26 December 2025
Monday 29th December 2025
Tuesday 30th December 2025
New Year
Wednesday 31 December 2025
Thursday 01 January 2026
Friday 02 January 2026
All back to work Monday 05 January 2026
Emergency Contact Details
Aquarius ‘out of hours emergency’ repairs 0131 608 1447
Lothian Gas any gas emergency repair 0131 440 4666
Scottish Water emergencies 0800 0778 778
Did you know WGHC has a website?
We have recently had our 3 yearly tenant satisfaction survey (undertaken by Research Resource in January / February 2025. The results of the survey will be published on our website in due course. We’d like to thank the 200 tenants who gave their time and took part.
We often hear comments from our tenants who are unaware that “WGHC has a website?”. The survey found that 66% of WGHC tenants had access to the internet and/or broadband either by mobile phone, tablet or computer but only 29% of tenants ever look at the website.
We use the website to communicate with tenants and it is regularly updated with all our latest news. The website address is: www.westgrantonhousing.coop or simply type “West Granton Housing Co-operative” into Google. It can be viewed on a computer, tablet or mobile phone.
The website explains who we are, where we are, what we do and why we do it. We post news articles and updates. You will also find details about our Committee and our staff, various contact telephone numbers, emergency contact details, whether we have any available properties, all our publicly available policies & certifications, previous newsletters and minutes of Committee meetings.
You can also use it to report complaints, damp and mould or to ask for help with debt advice, gas and electricity help and much, much, more!
Please take a look and tell your neighbours too – spread the word!
e mail@westgrantonhc.co.uk
w www.westgrantonhousing.coop
Out-of-office emergencies: 0131 608 1447
As a responsible landlord we are required to ensure that our properties are suitably insured from a buildings perspective to cover ‘re-build’ costs in the event of a total loss, i.e. fire or major flood, landslip or subsidence etc.
Every 3 to 5 years, we have our total property portfolio re-valued so we can ensure the valuation we declare to insurers (and upon which they base their annual premium) is accurate given the increases to the costs of consultants, surveyors, builders, building materials and labour rates.
The insurance we have in place covers the building only – it does NOT cover your household contents. It is your responsibility and, in your interest, to ensure you have home contents insurance in place to cover replacement in the event of a major incident.
Buildings Insurance and Home Contents Insurance Your Committee
* We had a fire within one of our properties 2.5 years ago that took almost 11 months to bring back to a habitable / lettable standard and for which costs were approximately £125,000 – the tenant and family were lucky to escape totally unharmed but lost every possession they owned aside from what they were able to walk out with.
Aside from the many insurers in the market and the various ‘price comparison’ websites (comparethemarket.com / confused.com / go.compare. com) that will direct you to home insurers, there is a scheme designed especially for tenants of both housing associations and co-operatives offered by Thistle Tenant Risks
Their application pack can be found in the reception area of the WGHC office, or by going online to: www.thistletenants-scotland.co.uk
Our Committee are now more representative of WGHC as we have more members than we have ever had in our 35-year history and from different areas within our estate. Minutes of all Committee Meetings are on our website. Your Committee members are:
Colin Fraser (Chair) Wendy Riordan (Vice Chair) Jim Hemphill (Vice Chair)
George Thomson
Cameron Durance
Liz Robertson
Alan Lamont
Amanda Aitchison
Elizabeth Stewart
Morag Orr Lynn Jameson
Stephanie Wilson Jon Douglas
We have 2 positions available on the Committee. If you are interested in a position on the Committee, as a Casual Vacancy or a fully elected member and want to have a say in your local community, please contact Larke Adger, CEO or David Mills, COO – either of whom, will be delighted to help you. Please feel free to call on 0131 551 5035