Published 04 December 2024
Housing services within West Dunbartonshire are continuing to perform well according to the latest Scottish Social Housing Charter Performance Report.
The annual report outlines the performance of Housing Services during 2023-2024 and highlights progress made in re-letting empty homes, the number of new tenants remaining in their homes for over a year and resolving cases of Anti-Social Behaviour.
Other key achievements include more housing offers being accepted, less empty homes and a substantial improvement in the time taken to carry out medical adaptations enabling tenants to live independently in their homes.
The report also addresses key areas for focus including actions to address the Housing Emergency which are progressing, and an improvement plan to ensure continued improved services for tenants.
Meanwhile, the Council’s ambitious new house building programme ‘More Homes West Dunbartonshire’, continues to deliver with the first tenants recently moving into properties at Clydebank East and progress being made on housing developments in Old Kilpatrick and Bonhill.
Over the last year, significant progress has also been made in tackling damp and mould in properties with environmental sensors now installed in more than 1000 Council homes. The devices provide vital information to the Council and to the tenant which help detect a risk of damp and mould developing.
Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, Convener of Housing and Communities, said: “The last year has been a challenging period and the service faces unprecedented pressures on its ability to meet housing need.
“Following a reduction of Scottish Government funding for the Council’s new build programme for 2024/25, a housing emergency in West Dunbartonshire was declared in May.
“A range of measures to tackle the emergency have been outlined in a comprehensive action plan, including reviewing budgets and funding models to enable more homes to be built, increasing the Buy Back scheme and continuing to lobby the Scottish Government to increase funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and this work continues.
“Throughout this, our staff have remained committed to delivering for our tenants and listening to their feedback to improve the service which we provide as a landlord.”
Councillor Hazel Sorrell, Vice Convener of Housing and Communities, said: “This report highlights the excellent work which is being undertaken by the Housing department for the benefit of tenants and residents in West Dunbartonshire. I commend the staff for their dedication under significant pressures.”
The full report can be found on the Council’s website at www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/our-performance/service-performance/housing-services-performance-information/charter-performance-report/