At Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting of River Clyde Homes, the membership of the Inverclyde-based housing association heard confirmation of plans for another low rent increase for 2017.

Having limited this year’s rent increase to 0.7 per cent, one of the lowest of any association in Scotland, the intention for next year is to continue with a CPI only rent increase. CPI is the independent measure of calculating inflation and is traditionally lower than RPI.

Albert Henderson MBE, chair of the River Clyde Homes Board, commented at the meeting: “We recognise that many of our customers are experiencing financial challenges and making sure our rents remain affordable and provide good value for money is one the main ways we can help them.”

The membership also had confirmation of improving customer satisfaction with its services.

The results of a specially commissioned customer satisfaction survey, carried out by independent Scottish company Research Resource, show a marked improvement in satisfaction compared to the previous survey in 2013, and in some instances, put River Clyde Home amongst the top performing in the country.

Overall satisfaction with services has increased by 10 per cent and now stands at 94 per cent. In most other key Scottish Housing Regulator customer satisfaction areas, River Clyde Homes has shown a significant improvement including ‘customers feel well informed’, now stands at 95 per cent, and ‘tenants who feel rent for property is good value for money’ now stands at 80 per cent.

Mr Henderson welcomed the survey results and added: “We are pleased with the increase in customer satisfaction across all key measures. However, we are in no way complacent and we know there are many areas where we need to improve our services and the quality of our homes.

“But these figures show that since the last survey in 2013 we have been a listening and a learning organisation. Back then customers told us they wanted more repairs appointment times that suit them. We introduced a new system to allow this to happen and this has had an impact on improving satisfaction around our repairs service. Similarly, the increased levels of satisfaction on being informed and involved put us well above the Scottish average.”