Huge housing cash boost

Jun 5 2009 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

A MASSIVE cash injection to upgrade properties in Paisley, Linwood and Johnstone has been announced by housing association bosses.

Linstone Housing Association is planning to invest more than £2.3million upgrading its estates across the region during the next year.

And tenants could see a further £10million in improvements for all the 1,600 homes over the next six years.

The housing association controversially raised rents in October last year by 5.2 per cent – 1 per cent above inflation at the time.

However, the association insists the cost pressures associated with the significant investment, combined with the associations running costs and loan repayments, had meant that it had little option but to increase rents by an average of £2.97 a week.

Corporate services director Gary Dalziel told the Paisley Daily Express: “While we appreciate that in this difficult financial climate a 5.2 per cent rent increase could be perceived as high, we have unfortunately been left with no alternative in order to keep our properties maintained both this year and over the longer term.

“Each year through rents, we raise around £5million and we invest a large part of that into improving service for our tenants and the association has a continued commitment to investing significantly in our properties to ensure that these homes are attractive and enjoyable to our residents.”

During the next year, the association revealed, it is anticipating spending almost £900,000 carrying out day-to-day repairs on tenants homes.

Furthermore, during the same period Linstone bosses foresee a further £1million invested in:

lReplacing and upgrading lifts in the two multi-storey blocks in Linwood.

lRewiring properties in Glen Street, Paisley.

lReplacing 75 central heating boilers in Sandyflats, Johnstone.

lFitting kitchens into 139 properties throughout the association’s properties.

And in addition to these repairs and major improvement programmes, a further £400,000 of works will take place including painting, gutter cleaning, gas servicing, landscaping, insulation and a range of smaller projects.

Mr Dalziel added: “We will continue to improve and install state-of-the-art kitchens, bathrooms and central heating systems to make life a little bit more comfortable for our tenants.

“While councils are being forced to cut back on services, we can promise our tenants continued improvements over the next six years and longer.”

Linstone Housing Association was formed on March 1, 1998, and is a “not for profit” organisation, registered and regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.

It is run by a voluntary Committee of Management.