WINCHESTER City Council has received a glowing report from its tenants.
A survey revealed 88 per cent of tenants are satisfied with its services, up from 86 per cent two years ago.
Richard Botham, head of landlord services, said: “We measure the success of our service through a tenant survey every two years and overall satisfaction has increased.
“Eighty-four per cent of tenants were satisfied with the quality of their home and 82 per cent happy it was value for money. We regard these as very positive findings.”
It was part of a report to councillors on the housing team’s overall performance over the past year.
One of the key changes in housing in past months is the bedroom tax, which reduces housing benefit payments to tenants with unoccupied rooms.
The council is currently consulting 33 tenants over downsizing to smaller properties while three have already done so.
But councillors at a housing committee meeting raised concerns about whether families will be made to move to new areas and change jobs and schools.
Cllr Jane Rutter said: “It’s families who have children in school who find it most difficult to move and we should not be forcing them to change schools.
“There’s a lack of housing in the right places that makes it difficult for people to downsize. It’s crazy they still have to pay more.”
Mr Botham said: “Anyone who wishes to downsize will be given priority. If they are looking district-wide they are well placed to get somewhere, but if they are looking for a particular street they are going to struggle.”
Cllr David McLean added: “When someone downsizes there is a positive upside for people on the waiting list. It means somebody else is being put into accommodation they should be in.”
Officers also revealed around 1.2 per cent of council tenants are in rent arrears, just over the council’s target on one per cent, although Mr Botham said it was a good score compared to other social landlords.
There are 106 tenants in arrears of between £500-£1,000, 62 between £1,000 and £2,000 and nine in debt by more than £2,000.
Mr Botham said the council is unlikely to recoup money when arrears go above £750 but that they chase up debts as far as they can.
He said: “We pursue people through the courts and a judge might decide to enforce a payment plan or evict them. Even if they are evicted we pursue the debt.”
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