Tenant Hardship Loan Fund open for tenants struggling to pay rent

Tenants facing hardship due to COVID-19 will soon be able to apply for an interest-free government loan to cover up to nine months of rent.

The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund will give short-term support to tenants who are having trouble paying their rent because of the impact of COVID-19. A tenant hardship loan fund will open next week in Scotland.

Who can apply?

The interest-free loan will be available for private and social sector tenants who:

• Have the right to reside within in the UK
  
• Were not in rent arrears prior to 01 January 2020
  

Tenants can only apply for a loan once.

The loan scheme funding may be used to:

• clear rent arrears that have arisen since 01 January 2020 and/or;
  
• pay a maximum of 3 months future rent payments.
  

Tenants can apply for a loan to cover rent payments for up to 9 months in total. However, tenants cannot apply for more than 3 months of future rent payments.

The loan is repayable and may not be suitable for all tenants. Many tenants may be entitled to non-repayable support, for example through Universal Credit and Discretionary Housing Payments, which is a much better option.

How to apply?

For more information see the Tenant Hardship Loan Fund Portal

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Rent Increase. Have your say!*

Are you an Angus Council tenant?

If so, we need your views on the proposed rent increase for 2021/22 and options on how your rent money will be spent.

All three options would keep your rent amongst the lowest in Scotland.

Why are we proposing to increase the rent?

We need to make sure the money we receive from rent is enough to pay for existing services, including repairs, but also to pay for larger improvements needed for tenants’ homes and to help build new homes.

Rent increases allow us to invest in our homes to continue to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. Rent increases will also allow us to meet the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

The rent rise is partly based on the inflation measure of CPI (Consumer Price Index), and in recent years an additional set percentage of 1% had been agreed between us and the Tenant Rent Setting Group. CPI+1% is the minimum rent increase required to allow us to deliver our current plans and manage inflationary rises. We need to increase the rent at least by inflation because that’s what it costs us to deliver existing services. However, following feedback received last year we have considered some alternative options with input from the Tenant Rent Setting Group.

How we decide on the Increase

We’re carrying out a consultation to help tenants consider the rent increase options and clearly see how the rent money will be spent.

The results of this survey will be presented at the Communities Committee in February 2021, where the final decision on a rent increase for 2021/22 will be made.

Rent Increase – the options

The Tenant Rent Setting Group has agreed three options which the members feel will bring benefits to tenants while keeping rents affordable.

The three options are:

	Option 1	Option 2 – Recommended by the Rent Setting Group	Option 3
Rent Level	1.75%	2%	2.25%
Capital spend (this is money invested to buy or upgrade fixed, physical, non-consumable assets, such as buildings and equipment)	Additional borrowing of an estimated £823,000 to maintain capital spend (cumulative position for 4 year period 2021/22 – 2024/25)	£18 million capital spend over the year	Reduced borrowing of an estimated £824,000 to maintain capital spend (cumulative position for 4 year period 2021/22 – 2024/25) which could be used to fund additional stock improvements
How many new builds?	Potential reduction in new build homes	70 new homes over the year	70 new homes – any additional funds will be used to improve existing stock
What stock improvements can tenants expect?	Potential reductions in stock improvements, which could mean delays to completion of the ongoing bathroom replacement programme	450 Gas & Electric Heating installations; 600 properties receiving external wall insulation & energy efficiency measures; 700 bathrooms.	In addition to planned improvements listed in Option 2, for example: 40 Gas Heating installations (including loft insulation); 40 Electric Heating installations (including loft insulation); 34 External Wall Insulations; 33 Window & Door Replacements

The tenant representatives recommend that tenants choose Option 2 which would mean a rent rise of 2%. This option is the minimum rise needed to deliver the current Business Plan without additional borrowing. It, along with Scottish Government grant funding, would enable us to build 70 new homes in 2020-21, as well as these improvements to existing stock: 450 Gas & Electric Heating installations, 600 properties receiving external wall insulation & energy efficiency measures, 700 bathrooms.

The graph below shows the average weekly rents of Angus Council over the past five years compared to other neighbouring local authorities (figures from the Scottish Housing Regulator). Unfortunately, the updated figures for 2019-20 are not yet available.

Angus Council average weekly rents

How the rent increase options would affect average Angus Council weekly rents

To have your say on the rent options,

please complete the survey online by 6 November 2020*.

*Please note this consultation is open to current Angus Council tenants only

Get Involved in Rent Setting!

We asked tenants in a recent survey:

Would you like to know more about how we spend your rent money?

Would you like to influence how rent levels are spent?

We had a huge response so we are holding our rent setting meeting online this year and our tenants are invited…

The meeting will be friendly and informal and will take place on:

Monday 12^th October

at 6:00pm

Tenants can join in by asking questions or can remain quiet and simply type in questions and comments if they prefer, whatever suits.

To find out more and book a place please contact:

bonij@angus.gov.uk

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Help for Private Renters with Our New Rent Deposit Scheme

Our new Rent Deposit Scheme is to help people on low incomes in housing need get accommodation in the private rented sector. If you urgently need housing, but don’t have the money for a deposit for a private rental property, we can help.

If you meet our conditions, we can pay the deposit to the landlord on your behalf. You agree to a savings plan to repay the money to us.

Anyone in work or receiving benefits can apply. To make sure you are able to repay us, we will carry out checks, including the affordability of the property, and check on your tenancy history including any rent arrears.

Landlords must be registered with us and transfer the deposit to one of the National Deposit Schemes. Do not sign a tenancy agreement or move into the property before we confirm you can take part in the scheme.

For further information about the scheme, check out our website.

Support and financial advice during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties, concerns or questions about their circumstances should seek out the right information and support as soon as they can.

We realise that some people who pay Council Tax and Rent may have their incomes affected as a result of the measures taken in response to COVID-19. That could result in them having difficulty in paying their Council Tax or Rent.

If you think you may have difficulty paying your Council Tax or Rent then please contact the Council as soon as possible on 03452 777 778 and we will discuss it with you.

We know that our phone lines will continue to be extremely busy so, if it is an option, please use our online services, including our Contact the Council webpage, which provides information on ways to get in touch and to access council services.

We also recognise that some people in Angus may now require to Access Welfare Entitlements, where they might not have needed to previously. You will find helpful information about Benefits and Money Advice on our website.

For more details on financial advice and assistance see the Angus Council News website.

See the Angus Council News general website for daily updates.

Council house/garage rent update letters are out!

If you are an Angus Council tenant (including garages and garage sites), you should have received your annual rent update letter for 2020/21 by now.

If you haven’t received your  rent notification, please let us know by emailing HousingQPP@angus.gov.uk or call us on ACCESSLine 03452 777 778.

Rent Setting Survey results for 2020/21

Our Rent Setting Survey was carried out earlier this year, where we asked tenants to vote for the level of rent increase they would support for 2020/21. Option 1 (3.1%) received the most votes and this will be proposed to Communities Committee in February 2020. One disappointing feature of this year’s vote was the low response – only 88 tenants. We would hope that in future tenants would appreciate the importance of this survey, since it directly affects the level of rent being paid by Council tenants.

The survey results were as follows:

• Option 1 (3.1%): 61 votes 69.32%
• Option 2 (3.2%): 13 votes 14.77%
• Option 3 (3.3%): 14 votes 15.91%

 

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Rent Rise Consultation – Last Few Days!

Calling all Council tenants! The consultation on the rent rise for 2020/21 only runs until Monday 30 September, so you’ve still got time to register your vote.

To vote, click on the survey link and choose one of the 3 options.

Rent Rise Vote Now Open – Have Your Say!*

Are you an Angus Council tenant? We need your views on what the rent increase should be in 2020/21 and how your rent money should be spent.

The three options outlined below will continue to keep your rent amongst the lowest in Scotland.

Why are we proposing to increase the rent? 

We need to make sure the rent money we receive is enough to pay for existing services, such as repairs, but also to pay for larger improvements needed for tenants’ homes and to help build new homes.

Rent increases allow us to invest in our homes to continue to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. and to meet the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing by 2020.

The rent rise is partly based on the inflation measure of CPI (Consumer Price Index), as well as an additional set percentage of 1% which has been agreed between us and the Tenant Rent Setting Group. CPI+1% is the minimum rent increase required to allow us to deliver our current plans and manage inflationary cost rises. We need to increase the rent at least by inflation because that’s what it costs us to deliver existing services. If we were to increase by more than 1% we could also increase investment in tenant homes.

How we decide on the Increase

We’re carrying out a consultation to help tenants consider the rent increase options and clearly see how the rent money will be spent.

The results of this survey will be presented at the Communities Committee in February 2020, where the final decision on a rent increase for 2020/21 will be made.

Rent Increase – the options

The Tenant Rent Setting Group has agreed three options which the members feel will bring benefits to tenants while keeping rents affordable.

The three options are:

 

	Option 1 – Recommended by the Rent Setting Group	Option 2	Option 3
Rent Level	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%
Capital spend (this is money invested to buy or upgrade fixed, physical, non-consumable assets, such as buildings and equipment)	£18 million capital spend over the year	Additional £340,000 capital to spend in addition to Option 1	Additional £680,000 capital to spend in addition to Option 1
How many new builds?	70 new homes over the year	70 new homes – any additional funds will be used to improve existing stock	70 new homes – any additional funds will be used to improve existing stock
What stock improvements can tenants expect?	450 Gas & Electric Heating installations; 600 properties receiving external wall insulation & energy efficiency measures; 700 bathrooms.	In addition to planned improvements listed in Option 1, for example: 20 Gas Heating installation (including loft insulation); 20 Electric Heating installations (including loft insulation); 10 External Wall Insulation; 11 Window & Door Replacements.	In addition to planned improvements listed in Option 1, for example: 40 Gas Heating installation (including loft insulation); 40 Electric Heating installations (including loft insulation); 20 External Wall Insulation; 22 Window & Door Replacements.

The tenant representatives recommend that tenants choose Option 1 (the lowest option), which would mean a rent rise of 3.1 %. This option is the minimum rise needed to deliver the current Business Plan. It, along with Scottish Government grant funding, would enable us to build 70 new homes in 2020-21, as well as these improvements to existing stock: 450 Gas & Electric Heating installations, 600 properties receiving external wall insulation & energy efficiency measures, 700 bathrooms.

The graph below shows the average weekly rents of Angus Council over the past five years compared to other neighbouring local authorities (figures from the Scottish Housing Regulator).

How a rent increase of 3.1% would affect average Angus Council weekly rents

	Average weekly rent 2018/19	Average weekly rent 2019/20	Average weekly rent 2020/21
Bedsit	£53.25	£55.11	£56.82
1 Bedroom	£61.79	£63.95	£65.94
2 Bedrooms	£69.48	£71.91	£74.14
3 Bedrooms	£78.56	£81.31	£83.83
4+ bedrooms	£96.60	£99.98	£103.08
Angus Average	£67.99	£70.37	£72.55

 

To have your say on the rent options,

please complete the survey online by 30 September*.

*Please note this consultation is open to current Angus Council tenants only

 

New Build Housing – A Tenant’s View

In April last year, tenants moved into the new homes at Viewmount in Forfar.

We went to see one of the Viewmount tenants, Nicola Brown, to see how she was getting on, and she kindly gave us her feedback on her new 3-bedroomed home. For Nicola and her family, getting a new council home meant a lot. Here’s what she said:

How are you finding your new house?

I love it, it’s nice and big. I will never move from here. It’s totally fab, in a great location and the neighbours are nice. We have a lovely view of the town.

Our lives are definitely better now than they were when we lived in a 3 bedroom flat in a block.

How long have you been a tenant of the Council?

I have been a tenant with the council for 3 years.

 What does your new house have that your previous house didn’t?

We have space and lots of cupboards here, a private and closed garden, our own driveway and it gives us great privacy. I can shut the living room door and no-one knows we are in. I like the location of the rooms in this house. I really like that we have the living room at the back of the house and the kitchen at the front. I can see my kids playing outside through the kitchen’s window whilst I’m making tea and doing the dishes.

 It’s great to have your own front entry door and we don’t need to use an entry fob anymore.

 The solar panels are great and save us money. There are times when we have only used 72 pence a day on electric even with using all our appliances.

 The number and location of all the cupboards and bi-folding doors are great. They can be locked which means we can keep things in a safe place away from the children. Our kitchen is nice and big enough for 6 people.

 All the bedrooms are a good size which means all the kids have space and we will be able to stay here when the new baby comes.

 All our family and friends that come to visit love the house too.

What’s the best thing (or things) about your new house?

Having my own driveway makes my life much easier. I don’t need to worry about living on a busy street anymore. We use to stay close to the main street and unpacking the shopping was not an easy task while trying to keep the children safe and remembering to lock the car between unpacking my car.

Having 2 bathrooms with showers are is making a make big different in our life. We only had a bath in the previous place so I think it is great that you are building houses with showers in them.

This house is really warm, even in winter time. I hardly have my heating on. Our home it’s very cosy with no draughts.

If the council could only prioritise 3 things in new houses, what 3 things would you suggest?

The cupboard space, a kitchen big enough to fit a table for families and having a shower as well as a bath.

 How long do you think you will stay in your current home?

 Forever, I am never leaving here.

 How do you and your family like living at Viewmount?

We love it, absolutely love it. Kids love the parks here and their school is nearby. There is no main road so it’s good and safe. There’s very little traffic it’s in a cul-de-sac. It’s close to the town centre and everyone is very nice here.

 How has your life changed since you moved to your new house?

It’s totally changed, it’s so much less stressful. We don’t need to worry about much living here. It’s much better for me and for my family. My kids can play outside here safely. I am so glad that we are away from the flat and environment around the block.

We’re delighted that Nicola and her family like her home so much and we hope to be able to do this for even more tenants over the next few years.