The Housing Service is responsible for delivering high-quality services for all tenants and other customers. The statement is made available to tenants to give them assurance that the council is meeting its responsibilities and providing quality services.

A report asking councillors to approve the Annual Assurance Statement for 2024/25 will be considered at a meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on Wednesday, 1st October.

During 2024/25, Perth & Kinross Council’s Housing Service complied with all but one of the regulatory requirements outlined in the Scottish Housing Regulator’s Framework. This confirms that the local authority:

• Met standards and outcomes in the Scottish Social Housing Charter for tenants, people experiencing homelessness, and others who use its services.
• Fulfilled legal obligations relating to housing and homelessness, equality and human rights, and tenant and resident safety.

The only area of non-compliance identified relates to the management of the council’s Gypsy/Traveller sites. In November 2024, the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) carried out an investigation into the Double Dykes and Bobbin Mill Gypsy/Traveller sites. The SHR’s findings concluded that Perth & Kinross Council had not met its obligations under the Scottish Social Housing Charter.

To provide assurance and demonstrate progress, the council is now required to submit quarterly updates to the SHR under an agreed Engagement Plan. To date, two quarterly updates have been submitted, and the council has received positive feedback from the SHR on the progress made.

Overall, the report confirms that Perth & Kinross Council achieved the standards and outcomes in the Scottish Social Housing Charter for tenants, people who are homeless and others who use its services. The council complied with legal obligations relating to housing and homelessness, equality, and human rights.

Committee convener, Councillor Tom McEwan, said: “The Council’s Housing Service continues to deliver very high levels of service, with strong performance across all areas despite ongoing challenges such as the rising cost-of-living. In many areas we are exceeding the standards required by the SHR. This has been achieved in the context of maintaining our rents at affordable levels, demonstrating our commitment to delivering a value for money service for our tenants.

“We were disappointed with the SHR findings about our Gypsy/Traveller sites. A chalet replacement and site improvement programme is currently underway at Double Dykes thanks to over £6m of investment from the Scottish Government and the council which will completely transform accommodation at the site. We are also in the early stages of consulting residents at Bobbin Mill about a chalet replacement and improvement programme there.

“To ensure continuous overall improvement across Housing Services we have an Action Plan in place to build on progress, implement improvement actions and ensure ongoing compliance with regulations.”