Residents and tenants were consulted between November 2023 and January 2024 to get feedback on the proposals.

The previous rent setting policy, approved in 2005 and reviewed in 2013, calculated rents using a points-based approach. It considered specific elements relevant to each property, including property type, garden, bedrooms, National Home Energy Rating Value, standard of kitchen, location, and whether it is a council new build. As a result there was 386 different rental levels.

The revised structure simplifies this to set out a baseline rent with the points based scheme making up the rest of the charge. The points are now applied in a more evenly matched way and the attributes used to calculate the rent include property size, property type, EPC rating, parking, garden, and additional toilet.

The consultation returned 833 responses with 82% of respondents, made up of current tenants and applicants, in favour of the revised policy.

Committee Chair, Councillor Amber Dunbar, welcomed the feedback that came from tenants during the consultation process. She said: “It was important that we spoke directly with those affected by this change in policy and the overwhelming response was that it will now be fairer and easier for housing applicants and tenants to understand.

“We continually strive to improve the quality of our stock and services, the range of housing options available, and levels of tenant involvement. Our average rent levels are currently lower than all other Scottish local authorities, and a rent affordability study showed rents are affordable across all measures, so there is scope for increases that will not exceed affordability thresholds.”

The Committee also noted a rent campaign will run from 1 March 2024 until 31 March 2024 to reduce overall rent arrears, as well as the number of high value rent arrears cases involving tenancies who owe in excess of £1,000.

Housing officers will make contact with tenants who have high level arrears and establish reasons for the arrears, as well as any mitigations and barriers to a resolution, and will implement a suitable repayment arrangement.

They will also request personalised and tailored assistance for tenants from internal services and external agencies, including housing management, housing support, welfare rights, benefits, debt advice, and social work services, and make sure proportionate steps are taken in arrears recovery.