Perth & Kinross housing services excel – Annual Statement confirms.

Perth & Kinross Council’s Housing Service is proud to announce the upcoming publication of its Annual Assurance Statement, assuring tenants of its adherence to national regulations and standards.

The Housing Service is dedicated to providing top-quality services for all tenants and customers. In accordance with Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) guidelines, the council is obligated to release an Annual Assurance Statement that reaffirms its commitment to meeting regulatory requirements while also highlighting areas for improvement.

This statement, once released, will offer tenants the peace of mind that the council is fulfilling its obligations and delivering exceptional services.

At an upcoming meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on Wednesday 2nd October, councillors will review a report seeking approval for the Annual Assurance Statement for 2023/24.

The report reveals that throughout 2023/24, the council’s Housing Service upheld all regulatory requirements imposed by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR), with the exception of one – its legal obligations concerning tenant and resident safety.

The council fell short in fully complying with Electrical Inspection Certificate Reports (EICR) for 28 out of its 8,053 properties. This accounts for just 0.35% of homes, largely due to some tenants being hesitant to grant access for testing, as well as the complex support needs of certain occupants. Additionally, some properties were still awaiting EICR as part of the voids process.

Overall, the report confirms that Perth & Kinross Council met the standards and outcomes outlined in the Scottish Social Housing Charter for tenants, homeless individuals, and other service users. The council also fulfilled its legal obligations regarding housing, homelessness, equality, and human rights.

Councillor Tom McEwan, the committee convener, expressed, “The council’s housing service has maintained exceptional performance levels, surpassing standards in various areas despite challenges like the cost-of-living crisis. We are dedicated to providing a high-quality service while keeping rents affordable, reflecting our commitment to delivering value for our tenants.”

He added, “To drive continuous improvement, we have established an Action Plan to build on our progress, implement enhancements, and ensure ongoing compliance with regulations. Safety remains a top priority, and we have now established a dedicated Housing Compliance Team to closely monitor key areas such as gas, electrical, water, fire, and asbestos safety, ensuring the presence of appropriate checks and governance measures.”