Housing Management

Managing Your Homes And Neighbourhood

A key role for Dalmuir Park Housing Association is the management and administration of its properties. This includes setting fair rents that generate sufficient funds for the Association to run its affairs and to maintain and improve its houses. The allocation of houses when they become available is important as is ensuring that properties are re-Let promptly to sustain high income levels. The upkeep of common areas (stairs and back courts / Landscaped areas and open spaces) is also significant.

Helping You In Your Tenancy

By the end of 2003-2004 almost all of our tenants had signed new tenancy agreements that provided greater protection and other benefits such as right to repairs, and improved consultation and participation.
In addition the Association circulated a new Handbook which gives updated information about the issues that are important to you as a tenant such as your rent, repairs, making alterations to your home, allocations and the complaints procedure.

Paying Your Rent

During the course of 2003-2004 we looked at how tenants paid their rent and decided to introduce a 'Swipe Card' system. These cards can be used at various locations including the Post Office, petrol stations and local shops that display Pay Point and Payzone Logos. We are now implementing the new system.

  Rental Income Rent Arrears
% (Target)
2003/04
£1,572,072
£67,764
4.31 (2.4)
2002/03
£2,558,255
£101,176
4.00 (2.4)
2001/02
£1,651,554
£91,171
5.60 (2.4)
Improved Consultation

The Association took a number of steps to consolidate its participation and consultation policy at the same time meeting the requirements of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. We reviewed how we obtained information about levels of resident satisfaction and consulted widely on amendments to policies such as Allocations, Maintenance and the Rent Review. The Association also investigated the introduction of Gold Service, an initiative aimed at rewarding good tenants and improving Housing Management within the area.

Housing Stock

DPHA owns a total tenanted stock of 669 homes including six group homes. The Association has 40 shared ownership flats and provides a factoring service for over 100 owners. This results in a managed stock of 834 houses.

 

 


Apartment Size
Rented Accommodation
2
336
3
252
4
67
5+
8
Group Homes
6
Total
669
Rents

Setting rents is a balance between providing affordable housing and ensuring funds for future management and maintenance costs. During 2003-2004 a rent increase of 3.9% was decided in order to meet the Association's increasing costs. The average weekly rent excluding service charges is now £38.74.
Minimising rent arrears, and loss of income through unoccupied houses is an important part of housing management, and the Association continues to work hard to achieve this.
Re let times were reduced to 23 days closer to the re let target of 18 days.

 
Voids
% (Target)
Re let Times
2003/04
£16,484
1.05 (1.0)
23 days
2002/03
£19,894
0.78 (1.0)
30 days
2001/02
£23,188
1.40 (1.0)
18 Days

Allocations

DPHA allocated 64 properties during the year all of which came from the Association's own waiting list. The Association continues to operate an open waiting list.

 

Lets by Client Group

Group
No of lets
Couples with children
10
Single person
32
Single parents
17
Couples with no children
5
Total
64

Lets by House Size

Size

No of Lets

2
35
3
28
4
1
5
0
Total
64