ON THE HOUSE - INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Perth and Kinross Council
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N
TUM
A U
ON THE
HOUSE
ISSUE 57: Autumn 2019
for Perth & Kinross Council Tenants
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Vote for your Your Community Winter is coming!
preferred 2020/21 Champion nominees Tips on how to
rent level revealed protect your home
Barbara Renton
Executive Director
(Housing &
Environment)
Introduction
Welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of On The House magazine.
Once again you have the chance to influence There’s an update on our housebuilding
decisions about the level of rent you pay and programme as well as our investment to
the services you receive for your money. improve your homes on pages 6 and 7, and the
nominees for this year’s Community Champions
For the third year running, three options for rent are revealed on page 10.
levels for next year are being put forward based
on what you, our tenants, told us what your As we come into the winter months it’s always
priorities are for spending your rent money. You important that you know how to protect your
can read more about this on page 3. home in spells of extreme cold weather. You
can read all about this on page 11.
Last year’s consultation was our most
successful ever with 1,064 tenants taking the New legislation is bringing about some changes
time to respond and we are looking to improve to your tenancy, and you can find all the detail
on these numbers this year. So please take a on pages 12 and 13.
few minutes to complete and return the voting
form with this magazine or if you prefer you can I hope you enjoy this edition of your On The
complete the survey online by visiting House magazine and remember, please fill in
https://consult.pkc.gov.uk your rent options form. Your views really do
matter to us.
Elsewhere in this edition of On The House
you can find out more about a fantastic new Barbara Renton
Family Club that’s been set up in Methven with Executive Director (Housing & Environment)
the help of tenants, residents and our Tenant
& Resident Participation staff. It’s a great
example of what can be achieved by working
together.
Contact us
If you would like more information about anything mentioned
in this magazine please contact the editor, Scott Watson, on
01738 476163 or email ScottWatson@pkc.gov.uk
You can also contact us on our social media sites for Perth and
Kinross tenants:
www.facebook.com/PKCTenants
www.twitter.com/PKCTenants
2 | On The House
Your chance to influence the
rent levels for 2020/21
Each year the Council reviews and increases A voting form is included with this edition of
the rent levels we charge to tenants for the On The House. The form explains how the
Housing services we provide. These annual rent increase has been calculated and provides
increases are necessary to ensure that we details of each of the options you are being
continue to meet our duties to you as a landlord asked to consider. The form also includes
and maintain high levels of service delivery. The examples of the differences that each option
rent increase is needed to cover any additional will mean for the services we provide.
costs such as inflation, and price increases
for stock and supplies and to ensure we have Service Manager Michelle Dow explains:
enough money to maintain our new properties. “Influencing the rent increase is one of
The rent increase is one of the most important the most important decisions tenants
decisions that we take each year and because are involved in each year and I would
this decision affects all 7,636 tenants it’s very urge you to take this opportunity
important that you have an opportunity to have to have a direct say on the level of
your say. rent you pay. The outcomes of the
This is now the third year that we have survey will be presented to Housing &
provided options for tenants to consider and Communities Committee in January
vote for. Last year over 1,064 tenants voted 2020 and will provide elected
for their preferred rent increase option, with members with a clear view on your
most tenants favouring a 1.5% increase. The preferred option.”
outcomes of the voting survey agreed by the
Housing & Communities Committee in January
this year.
Earlier this year we asked you about your
priorities for the delivery of our housing
service and 849 of you told us that repairs and
improvements, new-build housing, improving
services to older people and maintaining your
neighbourhoods are your main priorities. We
have taken these priorities into account when
calculating rent options for you to consider.
On The House | 3
Methven Family Club One important job of our Tenant & Resident Participation Team is working with local communities when people have an idea for a community improvement they’d like to take forward. 4 | On The House
One great example of this is in Methven, Community members have worked with our
where the community has recently been staff to receive more funding from the Council
to keep the club going for the rest of this year.
supported to set up a new Family Club. This secures the immediate future for what
Dawn describes as “a valuable new resource for
The club brings people in the community the community”.
together, families play games and do craft
activities whilst getting to know one another. The Family Club usually meets at 3.15 pm till
5.00 pm in the Methven Community Centre on
The local Tenant & Resident Participation a Tuesday during school terms. All families are
Workers, along with Community Learning & welcome along.
Development colleagues, initially helped the
community to apply for Community Investment
Fund support. This paid for the hire of the
Methven Community Centre, an arts and crafts If you feel your community
worker, refreshments and equipment which was might benefit from working
used to set up the group, which started meeting with your local Tenant &
in February 2019. Resident Participation
Worker you can get in touch
The community has now taken over the running by calling 01738 476165 or
of the club supported by Council staff, and email TenantParticipation@
one of the people involved is Council housing pkc.gov.uk
tenant, Dawn Thompson.
Dawn said:
“At the start of the year I Dawn Thompson
received a flier through the
door, and I was immediately
attracted by the arts and crafts
which I love doing with my
daughter. I came along to the
sessions and really enjoyed it.
“The Council staff were
looking for locals to take over
the running of the club, and I
thought by volunteering it was
the best way to keep the group
going.
“I like encouraging the children
to be artistic and like seeing
their creations. The games and
sports are great at helping burn
some of the kids’ energy and
seeing parents and kids playing
together is always special.”
On The House | 5
Perth & Kinross Council tenants are benefitting from
an investment of over £2m to help upgrade heating
systems in local homes that are ‘hard to heat’.
Money from the national Warm Homes The Council submitted a bid for funding from
Fund forms part of the overall investment the Warm Homes Fund in partnership with
to replace old central heating systems and energy company SSE last year. The fund is
support people who live in remote local designed to support local authorities, and
areas to heat their homes. organisations working with them, to address
fuel poverty.
The work includes the installation of state-
of-the-art air source heat pumps to some The successful bid of £1,209,303 was
homes which have no access to gas mains, backed by further investment of £1,092,051
helping to lower fuel bills for tenants and by Perth & Kinross Council and Energy
residents. Company Obligation funding of £138,550
from SSE.
The pumps work by absorbing heat from the
air at low temperature into a fluid. This fluid This investment is supporting the delivery of
then passes through a compressor where several projects:
its temperature is increased and transferred
• Extensions to the mains gas network
to the heating and hot water of the house.
and installing 352 new gas heating
This form of heating is very efficient and systems in the North Muirton area of
has lower carbon emissions than traditional Perth.
heating methods.
• Installing 63 air source heat pumps
Head of Housing Clare Mailer said: or LPG systems in rural areas of
Perthshire which have no current
“Everyone has the right to live in a access or any prospect of receiving
warm home that is affordable to heat. mains gas.
This significant investment is helping
• Helping to identify and engage with
us to target homes that are hard-to- people suffering from fuel poverty
heat or are situated in rural areas that in Perth and Kinross so that we can
the gas network doesn’t reach. It deliver resources where it is most
will make a huge difference to lives of effective.
hundreds of our residents.”
6 | On The House
Council’s new housing
building programme continues
Plans for new homes at Glebe in Scone
Work has begun on two of the Council’s A total of 70 new flats and houses will be built
most ambitious new housebuilding at Huntingtower in Perth - the Council’s biggest
build since we started our programme of
projects - at the site of the former Glebe
constructing new houses in 2011.
School in Scone and at Huntingtower in
Perth. When the developments are complete they will
take the total number of new Council homes
Sixty-five new affordable homes will be built built since 2011 to almost 400.
on the Glebe site in Scone, including some
accessible bungalow blocks that will allow Both multi-million pound builds will be
people with health and social care needs to live completed next year, and more are in the
independently. pipeline. The developments will provide
additional much-needed, high-quality social
housing for affordable rent.
On The House | 7
More and more tenants are
engaging with the Council
to help shape and influence
their Housing Services.
A range of initiatives in the Council’s Tenant Some notable TRP success over the last 12
& Resident Participation (TRP) Strategy months include:
have encouraged tenants to get more
• 99% of our tenants told us they are
involved and make their voices heard. By
satisfied with their opportunities to
working closely together the Council and
participate and influence the Council’s
tenants can make sure that the services we
decisions, making Perth & Kinross
provide are high-quality and are the right
Council the best performing local
ones for you.
authority in Scotland.
8 | On The House
• Tenant monitoring groups have been set
up to scrutinise how Housing Revenue
Account money is spent and how the TRP
Strategy is being implemented.
• A total of 849 tenants took part in a vote
informing us of their priorities for rent
spending, up from 182 the previous
year. 1,064 tenants responded to the
consultation on rent level options - an
increase of 248% on 2017/18.
• Short-life tenant focus groups were SURE Team
established to look at issues such as anti-
social behaviour and housing for older The new TRP Strategy was approved in
people. 2018 and was developed and written for the
first time by Council tenants based on what
• Tenants and residents helped to
TRP activities you wanted to see.
deliver 66 Estate-Based Initiatives (EBI)
projects to improve their neighbourhood Senior Tenant & Resident Participation
environments. Worker, Judy Barrow, said:
• The tenant-led Service Users Review
“Involving as many tenants in the
and Evaluation (SURE) Team assessed
and graded the performance of Housing decisions that affect them is a
services across all 16 of the Scottish key part of our work. Our new
Housing Regulator’s Charter outcomes. TRP Strategy has introduced a
• Tenants were involved wider range of opportunities for
in the review and tenants to influence our services
procurement of Floating at different levels, from light touch
Housing Support activities through to more committed
services. involvement like membership of
• New locality-based TRP groups.
drop-in sessions were
established across the “We’ve been particularly delighted
area. that there’s been a huge increase
in the number of tenants taking
the opportunity to get involved in
influencing how we spend rent
money and in setting your annual
rent level increases, and that’s
something we’ll be building on.”
If you would like more information about
how you can get involved please email
TenantParticipation@pkc.gov.uk or
call 01738 476165.
On The House | 9
In the Spring 2019 edition of On The House we once again
gave you a chance to recognise the people who help make your
neighbourhoods special places to live.
The Council’s Housing Service works hard to support tenants to make
sure they enjoy their homes, but at the end of the day it’s people who
make our neighbourhoods.
To help recognise and celebrate this we asked tenants to nominate
their ‘Community Champion’ - a neighbour who goes that extra
mile to help people in their street or community and makes a positive
difference to people’s lives.
We’re delighted to announce the names of the Community
Champions who were nominated by you.
10 | On The HouseLetham/Hillyland Locality South Locality
• Laura Anderson, Letham • Kirsteen Ross, Kinross
• Jon Kidd, Letham • Kieran Hunter, Gilmerton
• Doris McKay, Tulloch • John Stewart, Dunning
• Lis Blackley, Letham • Sheila and David McDonald, Blackford
• Janie Scott, Tulloch Lade Group • Frances Abel, Kinross
• Margaret McKenzie, Double Dykes • Jimmy Farmer, Aberuthven
• Emma Gerrard, Letham • Dawn Clark, Crieff
• Grant McLaughlan, Tulloch Net • David Bayne, Muthill
• Gareth Edwards, Letham • Charlie & Irene Robertson, Braco
• Fiona Scott, Letham • Callum Ross, Comrie
• Ray Stewart, Letham • Katrina Whyte, Dunning
• Sheena Donald, Letham St Marks • Ian Blanch, Den of Methven
• Staff at the Garth Convenience Store, • Mhari Philip, Comrie
Letham
• Gillian Brock, Comrie
• Peter Flounders, Kinross Christian
North Locality
Fellowship
• Kian Donnelly, Blairgowrie High School
• Angela Mune, Methven
• Sheila Fisher, Alyth
• Kate Armstrong, Glenfarg & Duncrieve
• Lee McDonald, Blairgowrie in Bloom
• Charlotte Leckie (aged 9), Stanley
• Ruby Mills, Stanley
Perth City
• Craig & Tanya Burnett, Perth
• Fraser Johnston, Nisa Shop, Bankfoot
Community Farm
• Shamus McPhee, Bobbin Mill
• Alison Fisher, South Perth Partnership
• Elizabeth Campbell, Aberfeldy
• Suzie Burt, Perth
• Major Charles Dunphie, Blairgowrie
• Gerald Low, Perth
• Peter Ritchie, Rattray
• Roy, Kim and staff, Garth Convenience
• Petrina Menzies, Backlunnans Store, Perth
• Maureen & Brian Harrison, Alyth • George Thompson, Rustic Retro,
Scone
• John O’Neil, Alyth
• Ann Bannatine, Perth
Congratulations to everyone - we were delighted to receive so many nominations. Each
Community Champion nominee will receive a certificate, and one overall winner and two
runners-up will be chosen from each locality. See the Spring 2020 edition of On The
House for more details of the winners.
You can visit a full list of nominees including the reasons why they were nominated on
the Council website at www.pkc.gov.uk/commchampions
On The House | 11The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 has introduced
several changes to your tenancy rights which
are due to come into force from November 2019.
We wrote to all Council tenants in 2018 letting
you know how the changes may affect you.
The Act is very important when any changes in
occupancy of your home may be required, such Assignation
(passing your tenancy
as:
to someone else)
• Assigning - passing the tenancy to another
person; The house must have been your only or
principal home during the 12 months
• Sub-Letting - temporarily permitting immediately before you apply for written
another person to live in your home; permission to pass your tenancy to
someone else (previously there was no
• Joint Tenancy - adding someone
qualifying period); and
permanently to the tenancy;
the person you wish to pass your
• Succeeding - taking over a tenancy after a
tenancy to must have lived at the
tenant’s death.
property as their only or principal home
The changes have been designed to help social for the 12 months before you apply
landlords ensure that their housing stock is (previously the qualifying period was 6
being used in the best way possible. They months); and
come into effect from 1 November 2019. the 12 month period cannot begin
unless we have been told that the
person is living in the property as their
Sub-Letting only or principal home. We must have
(temporarily permitting another person to live in been told that by you, a joint tenant, or
your home)
the person you now wish to pass the
The 2014 Act makes the following changes: tenancy to. If we have already been told
that the person is living in the property
You must have been the tenant of we do not have to be notified again.
the house throughout the 12 months
immediately before you apply for We can refuse permission to assign a tenancy
written permission to sub-let your home if it is reasonable for us to do that. Two new
(previously there was no qualifying reasons when we can refuse an application
period); or for assignation have been added to the
existing list of reasons:
if you were not the tenant throughout
the whole of that period, the house must Where we would not give the person
have been your only or principal home you wish to pass the tenancy to priority
during those 12 months; and under our allocations policy.
the tenant must have told us that you Where, in our opinion, the assignation
were living there prior to the start of would result in the home being under-
those 12 months. occupied.
12 | On The HouseJoint Tenancy
The proposed joint tenant must have lived at the property as their only or principal home for
the 12 months before you apply for them to become a joint tenant (previously there was no
qualifying period); and
the 12 month period cannot begin unless we have been told that the person is living in the
property as their only or principal home. We must have been told that by you, a joint tenant,
or the person you now wish to become a joint tenant. If we have already been told that the
person is living in the property we do not have to be notified again.
Before you can add a joint tenant to your tenancy agreement, as is already the case, you must
ensure that you apply to us for permission. The person you wish to add as joint tenant, and any
existing joint tenants, must apply along with you.
To ensure that your tenant rights
Succession are protected it’s very important
(taking over a tenancy after the tenant’s death)
that you advise us of any changes
To ensure rights to succession are protected you must to your household. This includes
have told us that the person wishing to succeed to a telling us about anyone who has
tenancy has moved in with you at the time they did so. previously moved in with you who
you haven’t already told us about,
Unmarried Partners and when anyone moves into or out
The house must have been the unmarried partner’s of your home in the future, you tell
only or principal home for 12 months before they us at that time.
qualify to succeed to the tenancy (previously this
If you need more information on
was 6 months); and
how these changes affect you
the 12 month period cannot begin unless we have please contact your Locality
been told that the individual is living in the property Housing Team by telephoning
as their only or principal home. We must have been 01738 476000 (choose option 2).
told that by you, a joint tenant, or the person who
wishes to succeed to the tenancy.
Family Members The new legislation also
The house must have been the family member’s enhances the Council’s
only or principal home for 12 months before they powers to deal with
qualify to succeed to the tenancy (previously there
tenants who are engaging
was no qualifying period, the person simply had to
be living there at the time of the tenant’s death); and in anti-social behaviour.
the 12 month period cannot begin unless we have We would encourage
been told that the family member is living in the anyone who is experiencing
property as their only or principal home. We must anti-social behaviour by one
have been told that by you, a joint tenant, or the of our tenants to contact
person who wishes to succeed to the tenancy.
us so Housing staff can
Carers investigate it. We will work
The house must have been the carer’s only or with our Safer Communities
principal home for 12 months before they qualify colleagues to resolve
to succeed to the tenancy (previously there was no problems where necessary.
qualifying period, the person simply had to be living
there at the time of the tenant’s death and have Call your Locality Housing
given up a previous home to provide the care); and Office on 01738 476000
the 12 month period cannot begin unless we have and choose option 2 to
been told that the carer is living in the property as speak to us about any
their only or principal home. We must have been issues.
told that by you, a joint tenant, or the carer.
On The House | 13Periods of cold winter weather
can put pressure on the Council’s
Housing Repairs & Improvements
Service. By following some simple
tips you can help make sure that
avoidable repairs are minimised
and ensure our staff are available
to respond to emergency repairs.
Avoiding winter damage If pipes do freeze:
Long periods of cold weather can cause ❄ If pipes which are part of the hot water
damage to your home. system become frozen, turn off or
extinguish the source of heat (immersion
The most common cause of damage is when
heater, gas boiler, coal fire back boiler).
household pipes freeze up and burst, causing
water leaks. There are some simple things you ❄ Turn off the supply of water at the stop
should do to stop pipes freezing: valve.
❄ Check you know how to use the heating ❄ Before attempting to thaw the pipe remove
system properly, and where your stop or protect anything which might be
valves are. If you don’t know, email our damaged if the pipe bursts.
Repairs Centre or give them a call and they ❄ Gently heat the frozen section of pipe using
can tell you (see contact details below). a fan heater, hairdryer, hot water bottle or
❄ Keep the heat in. Fit draughtproofing, heated cloths wrapped round the pipe.
insulate your home and lag your pipes.
❄ Keep your heating on overnight at a low If pipes burst:
temperature so pipes won’t freeze - simply ❄ Turn off the water at the main stop valve
turn your thermostat down to 15°C. in the house. Turn on the taps. Switch off
❄ Repairing dripping taps helps prevent the boiler and switch off the immersion or
freezing pipes, and so does salt placed in water heating systems (extinguish your coal
the waste traps of sinks, baths, basins and fire if you use a back boiler).
toilets. ❄ Turn off the electrical supply (electricity and
❄ If you’re leaving your house unoccupied water are a bad combination).
for more than a few days during winter you ❄ Contact the Repairs Centre by emailing
should ask the Repairs Centre to turn off HousingRepairs@pkc.gov.uk or call the
the water and drain the plumbing. Leave team on 01738 476000 (choose option 1).
keys with a trusted friend/neighbour and,
if you can, leave your heating on while ❄ Warn neighbours if they are likely to be
you are away. If you do this, ensure pre- affected.
payment meters have enough credit. ❄ If water is coming through the ceiling,
❄ Before winter weather arrives why not collect it in buckets/containers and move
get some free advice to help you reduce items likely to be damaged.
your fuel bills and heat your home more
efficiently? You can contact Scarf to You should always make sure you have
arrange a home visit from an expert by household contents insurance to cover your
calling 01224 213005 or emailing info@ household goods and personal belongings.
scarf.org.uk The Council can offer tenants cheaper
insurance through a partnership with Royal
& Sun Alliance. For more information on this
please speak to your Locality Housing Team
or call 08456 718172.
14 | On The HouseNew text
confirmation
service when
you book a
repair Email newsletters can
keep you up-to-date
When you book a housing repair
with the Council we will now send
a text message direct to your
mobile phone confirming the date
and time of the appointment. If you use a mobile phone, tablet or laptop you may
prefer to receive your Housing Service news and
This service improvement for updates via email.
tenants has been made possible
by our new mobile working We can send your On The House magazine direct to
system which is helping to make your email address instead of posting it out to you. If
the repairs service even more you would like to receive a digital version instead, all you
efficient. have to do is sign up for our email newsletters.
After you book a repair you’ll As well as On The House you’ll receive regular updates
receive a text message with the about your housing and neighbourhoods, with some
details, and then on the week newsletters tailored for the locality where you live.
of your appointment you’ll get
another text reminding you that To register for email newsletters you can visit
our repairs staff will be visiting. www.pkc.gov.uk/subscribenow and enter your
details.
As well as Housing news you can sign up for email
The text messages updates on a wide range of Council services - just tick
will give tenants a the boxes to tell us which services you’re interested in.
record of when their
repair is booked, helping Receiving news via email is quick, simple and convenient
you to make sure someone is for a lot of people. If you prefer to be kept informed this
at your home when we call. way please look at getting signed up.
Have you signed up for MyPKC?
More and more PKC Reporting a repair online is quick and
Housing tenants simple, and you can do it 24/7 at your own
convenience. The system allows you to
are signing up to
track the progress of your repair from when
use online services you report it to when it’s completed.
through MyPKC.
If you sign up to MyPKC you can also now
view your rent account online. This means
Reporting your non-emergency housing you can also now check your rent account
repairs online via MyPKC is becoming online 24/7 wherever you are.
increasingly popular - between May 2018
and April 2019 well over 1,000 online If you’ve not created a MyPKC account yet
housing repairs were reported by tenants. you can visit www.pkc.gov.uk and click on
the ‘MyPKC’ button to get started.
On The House | 15Responsive Repairs Welcome once more to
Policy updated the On The House quiz!
Keeping the Council’s 7,635 houses well-maintained
and in a good state of repair is a key priority for the
Housing Service. We’re offering three prizes of £10 vouchers for each
of the first three quiz winners drawn out of the hat
Our Housing Repairs & Improvement Team after the closing date of Friday 10 January 2020.
undertakes and manages this work, ensuring that Let us know whether you’d prefer a High Street
tenants are provided with safe, warm, modernised, shopping voucher or a book token.
secure housing that meets the Scottish Housing
Quality Standard. Complete the questions below. All the answers can
be found in this edition of On The House.
Repairs is a high-profile service that affects all our
tenants, and our Responsive Repairs Policy aims to Q How many EBI projects were completed in
ensure we meet all of our obligations to tenants when your neighbourhoods between April 2018 -
it comes to repairs. March 2019?
A Working Group made up of staff and tenant A
representatives has reviewed the Responsive Repairs
Policy over the last 12 months to ensure that the Q How many tenants voted in last year’s
Policy remains customer-focused and continues to consultation on Rent Level Options?
meet business needs.
A
The Working Group recommended a small number of
changes to the policy and these were approved by Q Whereabouts in Scone is the Council building
Housing & Communities Committee in August 2019. 65 new homes for affordable rent?
You can view the Responsive Repairs
A
Policy on our website at www.pkc.gov.uk/
repairresponsibilities
Q Text messages will now be sent to tenants
when they book which service?
Proposed lease of HRA A
property Name
Housing Services is proposing the lease of a
Housing Revenue Account-owned property to a local Address
community charity for a nominal rent.
Letham Climate Challenge Group wants to lease
39 Garth Avenue, Perth. Postcode
If you have any comments or objections to the If I win, I would like:
proposal you can let us know by calling 01738 a shopping voucher a book token (tick one)
476165 or email TenantParticipation@pkc.gov.uk
by Friday 10 January 2020. Cut out and send your entry (to arrive by Friday 10
January 2020) to On The House Quiz, Customer
(PKC Design Team - 2019025)
How We Use Your Personal Information & Community Engagement Team, Housing &
The information provided by you will be used by Perth & Kinross Environment, Perth & Kinross Council, Pullar House,
Council to assist us to let and manage your property. The information 35 Kinnoull Street, PERTH, PH1 5GD.
will not be disclosed to third parties. The Council may check
information provided by you, or information about you provided by Congratulations to the winners of the Wordsearch
a third party, with other information held by us. We may also get
information from certain third parties or share your information with
from the Spring 2019 edition: Belle Menzies of
them in order to verify its accuracy, prevent or detect crime, protect Auchterarder; Catherine Powell of Balbeggie; and
public funds or where required by law. E Cunningham of Carpenter Court, Perth. Your
For further information, please look at our website www.pkc.gov.uk/ prizes will be sent to you in the post.
dataprotection or email DataProtection@pkc.gov.uk or telephone
01738 477933.
If you or someone you know would like a copy of this document in another language or You can also send us a text message on 07824 498145.
format, (on occasion, only a summary of the document will be provided in translation),
this can be arranged by contacting the Customer Service Centre on 01738 475000. All Council Services can offer a telephone translation facility.
16 | On The HouseYou can also read
