​Survey reveals tenants biggest issues

Tenants see affordability and the cost of rent as the biggest issues when it comes to housing, according to a new report.

A National Panel of Tenants and Service Users has said that the quality of their home also has a big influence on value for money.

Run by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR), the panel also found around a third of members who took part in the survey have experienced rent affordability problems.

Iain Muirhead, the regulator’s director of strategy and communications, said: “The national panel continues to give us really valuable insights into what’s important to people who use social landlords’ services.

“The report shows that tenants have an appetite for their landlords to continue to develop how they demonstrate value for money.

“Future rent affordability featured again this year in the panel’s discussions. Our message remains that landlords should consider tenants’ ability to keep paying rent in the longer term when setting rents.”

The regulator will publish its national headline findings from the Scottish Social Housing Charter later this month showing the national picture on rent levels and tenant satisfaction on value for money.

It is also embarking on a review of its regulatory framework later in the year.