Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Statistics: Scottish Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure 1997-98 to 2022-23 (near actuals) & 2023-24 (budgeted estimates)

14. Tenant Consultation by Councils about HRAs

14.1 The survey asks councils about the extent and nature of any consultation they had undertaken with tenants in the previous year, for example, in terms of how the HRA budget had been spent or plans for future HRA expenditure. A framework for the involvement of landlords and tenants regarding the HRA is set out in A Framework for Supporting Tenant Involvement and the HRA Guide Implementation.

14.2 Twenty-four councils reported that they had undertaken tenant consultation about the HRA, one council said no, and one provided no reply. Frequently reported consultation topics were about rent rise proposals and HRA spending plans. Other topics included:

• impacts of the cost of living crisis
• value for money
• new build lettings plans
• plans for Gypsy/Traveller sites
• council housing stock improvements
• service delivery
• tenant priorities
• affordability

14.3 Councils reported a variety of methods used to consult tenants about the HRA including:

• tenant working groups and committees
• tenant mailed letter
• tenant consultation
• tenant newsletters
• tenant magazines
• tenant meetings (virtual and face-to-face)

14.4 Councils were also asked if they had done an Audit of Compliance with the Guidance on the Operation of Local Authority HRAs in Scotland. Six councils reported that they had. Twenty said no but with several of these reporting plans to do this or that it was done in the recent past.

14.5 Eleven councils reported they had used the HRA Self-Assessment Framework. Fifteen said no but with several of these reporting plans for this or that it had been used in the past.

14.6 Another survey question asks the following “In 2021-22 have any HRA surpluses been used to fund non-HRA costs incurred due to COVID-19, and if so, by how much (£)?”. All twenty-six councils said no.