Housing Revenue Account (HRA) statistics: Scottish local authority housing income and expenditure 2018-2019 (actuals) and 2019-2020 (estimates)

Tenant Consultation by Councils about HRAs

42. In the 2018-19 HRA survey councils were asked 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. This follows the publication of 'Guidance on the Operation of the Local Authority Housing Revenue Accounts in Scotland' (2014) https://indd.adobe.com/view/b5bb0a29-9cd7-4b3d-a596-f21c5dcfc19f / https://indd.adobe.com/view/358417f4-e346-4442-b5df-9d801bf4589f which sets out a framework for the involvement of landlords and tenants regarding HRAs.

43. Seventeen of the twenty-six councils reported that they had undertaken tenant consultation about the HRA in 2018-19, two reported no consultation undertaken and seven didn't provide a response to this question. The most frequently reported consultation topic was about rent rise proposals and HRA spending plans. Other topics included:

• sale of council land parcels
• council housing stock improvements
• service delivery
• value for money
• new housing building programs
• voids
• affordability
• new build programs

44. Council reported a variety of methods used to consult tenants about the HRA, the most frequent of which were tenant surveys (postal, online and telephone) and tenant meetings, panels or forums. Other consultation methods included:

• tenant working groups
• newsletters
• tenant conferences
• public meetings
• report cards
• housing magazines
• tenant newsletters seeking feedback.
• homelessness and Gypsy/ Traveller groups

45. Councils were also asked if they had done an audit of compliance with the 'Guidance on the Operation of Local Authority HRAs in Scotland' http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/03/1837. In 2018-19 ten councils reported that they had, ten said no, three gave no response and three said they planned to undertake an audit.

46. Thirteen councils reported they had used the HRA self-assessment framework, eleven said no and two have no reply.