Council tenant satisfaction on the rise in West Dunbartonshire

West DunbartonshireSatisfaction among West Dunbartonshire Council tenants is increasing, according to the latest Scottish Social Housing Charter Performance Report.

The council’s fourth such report was published last week and it reveals that more tenants are happy with most areas of the council’s housing service when compared to previous reports.

Produced in partnership with tenants, the purpose of the report is to provide accurate information about areas of performance which is of particular interest to council tenants. This report highlights areas where the council is performing well and also includes areas where action is being taken to improve.

Housing officers hope the report will encourage more detailed questions to be asked going forward and help drive further improvement.

The satisfaction survey element of the report found that 84% of tenants are now satisfied with the overall service being provided – 12% higher than in 2014. Other measures of satisfaction have also increased, including:

  • 79% of tenants satisfied with the opportunities given to participate in WDC’s decision making process (up 27% since 2014)
  • 86% satisfied with the quality of their home (up 12% since 2014)
  • 75% think the rent they pay represents good value for money (up 8% since 2014)
  • Councillor Diane Docherty, convener of housing & communities, said: “This survey shows another set of encouraging results and we are happy that most measures of satisfaction are moving in the right direction.

    “However, our aim is to keep improving to deliver the best possible service to our residents, so we will looking at these results in detail to see where we can get better.”

    Councillor Iain McLaren, vice convener of housing & communities, added: “We would like to thank the residents who agreed to take part in the survey for their valuable contribution. We can only improve if people tell us where we are doing well and where things need to improve.”

    Some of the key achievements during the past year include investment of more than £14 million to meet housing supply targets; the housing led regeneration of communities resulting in the delivery, so far, of 121 new council homes for rent; delivering a new Homelessness Strategy ‘More than a Roof’; and improved support provided in order to help tenants succeed in their homes.

    The report also sets out some of the actions that will be taking during 2017/18 in order to respond positively to the challenges faced and ensure that tenants are provided with good quality homes and services.

    Peter Barry, the council’s strategic lead for housing & employability, said: “Over the past 12 months we have witnessed the housing service continue to improve with a renewed focus and energy on providing excellent and appropriate housing and related services.

    “This report looks at our performance during 2016/17 and outlines how we have continued to deliver the standards and outcomes that tenants and other customers can expect in terms of the quality and value for money of the services they receive.”

    The full 2016/17 Scottish Social Housing Charter Performance Report can be viewed online at https://goo.gl/C2xPcS.

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