Over 12,000 on Borders housing lists

EXCLUSIVE by DOUG COLLIE

The number of applicants on the housing lists of the four Borders-based social landlords currently exceeds the overall total of tenancies available in the region, according to information published by the Scottish Housing Regulator.

Annual returns from Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA), Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA),  Eildon Housing Association and Waverley Housing Association show there were 12,084 applicants on their combined lists with 6,039 new applications received during 2017/18. The four organisations own 11,212 houses for rent between them.

Some of the applications will be duplicated across the Borders RSLs (Registered Social Landlord), while Eildon and Berwickshire have identical waiting lists as a result of their 'partnership' called Borders Choice Homes, part of Homehunt Scotland. We have been careful not to double count their numbers. The statistics also show there were 459 applications from homeless people during the financial year.

SBHA had 2,000 new housing applications in 2017/18 resulting in an overall total of 5,721. The Eildon/BHA figures were 2,987 new applicants and a total list of 4,739 while Waverley reported 1,052 new enquiries and a total housing list of 1,624.

In the five years to 2017 590 "affordable houses" were built in the Scottish Borders - an average of 118 new homes per year - according to figures contained in the council's local housing strategy. The new document covering the period 2017-2022 includes proposals for 1,192 new builds covering all forms of housing.

The regulator has today (August 31st) published an annual report detailing the performance of all social landlords in Scotland with individual sections for each RSL covering tenant satisfaction and quality of the houses in their ownership.

George Walker, the Chair of the Scottish Housing Regulator, said: “Overall, Scotland’s social landlords are continuing to perform well. They’ve maintained a strong performance across the majority of the Charter standards and outcomes. They continue to do well when it comes to the things tenants told us matter most to them. This good news is reflected in the high levels of tenant satisfaction which now sits at over 90%."

The data shows a mixed picture for the performance of the Borders RSLs. Here are the main facts and figures taken directly from each landlord report:

SCOTTISH BORDERS HOUSING ASSOCIATION - At 31 March 2018 your landlord owned 5,636 homes. The total rent due to your landlord for the year was £20,678,872. Your landlord increased its weekly rent on average by 4.90% from the previous year. Tenant satisfaction - Of the tenants who responded to your landlord’s most recent tenant satisfaction survey:

74.8% said they were satisfied with the overall service it provided, compared to the Scottish average of 90.5%. 72.5% felt that your landlord was good at keeping them informed about its services and outcomes compared to the Scottish average of 91.7%. 59.9% of tenants were satisfied with the opportunities to participate in your landlord’s decision making, compared to the Scottish average of 85.9%. 94.4% of your landlord’s homes met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard compared to the Scottish average of 94.2%.

BERWICKSHIRE HOUSING ASSOCIATION - At 31 March 2018 your landlord owned 1,782 homes. The total rent due to your landlord for the year was £7,211,728. Your landlord increased its weekly rent on average by 2.00% from the previous year.

88.2% said they were satisfied with the overall service it provided, compared to the Scottish average of 90.5%. 88.5% felt that your landlord was good at keeping them informed about its services and outcomes compared to the Scottish average of 91.7%. 82.0% of tenants were satisfied with the opportunities to participate in your landlord’s decision making, compared to the Scottish average of 85.9%. 85.7% of your landlord’s homes met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard compared to the Scottish average of 94.2%.

EILDON HOUSING ASSOCIATION - At 31 March 2018 your landlord owned 2,270 homes. The total rent due to your landlord for the year was £9,260,515. Your landlord increased its weekly rent on average by 4.00% from the previous year.

92.7% said they were satisfied with the overall service it provided, compared to the Scottish average of 90.5%. 89.3% felt that your landlord was good at keeping them informed about its services and outcomes compared to the Scottish average of 91.7%. 79.5% of tenants were satisfied with the opportunities to participate in your landlord’s decision making, compared to the Scottish average of 85.9%. 94.4% of your landlords homes met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard compared to the Scottish average of 94.2%.

WAVERLEY HOUSING.ASSOCIATION  -  At 31 March 2018 your landlord owned 1,524 homes. The total rent due to your landlord for the year was £5,973,577. Your landlord increased its weekly rent on average by 3.80% from the previous year.

92.6% said they were satisfied with the overall service it provided, compared to the Scottish average of 90.5%. 91.5% felt that your landlord was good at keeping them informed about its services and outcomes compared to the Scottish average of 91.7%. 80.7% of tenants were satisfied with the opportunities to participate in your landlord’s decision making, compared to the Scottish average of 85.9%. 95.7% of your landlord’s homes met the Scottish Housing Quality Standard compared to the Scottish average of 94.2%.

*The full returns submitted to the watchdog by each landlord can be accessed via the Scottish Housing Regulator's website. It is also possible to compare the performance of landlords throughout Scotland.