Working in partnership with Jobs & Business Glasgow, Yorkhill trialled the service in an effort to bring some contracts in-house and provide a local caretaking service to the area of Yorkhill.

The fantastic efforts of Gerry Morgan and Zoltan Kolbanyi have been very positively received by tenants and residents of Yorkhill, with the successful outcome of the trial resulting in the caretakers becoming a long-term service provided by the Association.

Grant Kennedy, deputy chief executive of Yorkhill Housing Association, said: “Gerry and Zoltan have very quickly become big parts of Yorkhill HA and the local area. Their hard work has seen a really positive impact on the local community by improving our estate management, clearing bulk, tidying back courts, and by carrying out some repairs in our properties – to name just a few things! They’ve been invaluable since they started and we’re really pleased to have them with us for the long term.”

Yorkhill HA previously used external contractors to tidy up common areas, and remove bulk from back courts where uplifts were missed or tenants had not requested this from Glasgow City Council. The new service means that common areas are cleared more quickly, leaving residents happy.

Tony Mallaghan, chief executive of Yorkhill Housing Association, said: “In planning for this new service we had to balance the new costs involved against ensuring our rents are kept low. Value for money was a big consideration but after some serious review we were able to largely offset the costs of employing the caretakers, including sourcing a van, as they carry out work that would usually be issued to contractors. Operating in this way means that we have more local control over the work in our area, and it’s the Association’s own staff helping to look after the community.”