Council house tenants in Dundee have backed the idea of paying more rent to generate investment in energy efficiency measures and help continue improvements to homes across the city.

A report to the city council's housing committee on today will be asked to approve a rise of 4.75% after more than 1100 tenants took part in a consultation process.

Jimmy Black, convener of the housing committee said: "The proposed increase is less than we could be levying and still have the agreement of the majority of tenants who responded to the consultation.

"Against a backdrop of steeply rising power costs they told us loud and clear that they want increased energy efficiency measures and are prepared to pay for them, knowing that these improvements will later save them money on their fuel bills and create warm comfortable homes for them to live in.

"With inflation calculated at 4.76% we feel that putting forward an increase of 4.75% strikes the right balance between the need to continue to invest in upgrading people's homes, being prudent with our limited resources and not charging any more than we have to.


"We want to provide better housing for people in Dundee and are working towards all our houses meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015." he continued. "A big part of the SHQS is about greater energy efficiency, more efficient heating systems, insulation and special district heating schemes all of which are designed to save tenants money and make their homes more comfortable. To do this we need to bring in money to pay for improvements and to maintain a comprehensive repairs service.

"I am delighted that we have been able to propose a rise that is well under the agreement reached with tenants that we would aim to keep rent rises to no more than inflation plus one per cent and still be able to make improvements to people's homes.

"Changes in the way the housing department and other areas of the council work to improve efficiency have also helped us to keep the increase to tenants lower than it could have been."

In November and December last year more than 30 local events were set up to discuss the proposed rent increase with tenants and their representative bodies. Material was also available from housing offices and on the council's website.

The consultation took in the views of more than twice as many tenants as in previous years, encouraging feedback via an online survey, email and SMS.

If councillors back the proposed rent increase it will work out at an average of £2.86 more per council house per week for the year beginning on April 1, 2012.

Other charges have also been reviewed including a proposal that garage lock-ups, underground parking bays and garage sites remain at current levels.

(GK)