You have until 20 December to complete the survey
Rent Increase Consultation 2025/26 Your opinion matters
Every year we need to consult you on our annual rent increase and ask for your feedback.
We are proposing a rent increase of 4.5% for 2025/26.
This year we were focused on gaining a better understanding of your priorities for the future, the services that are most important to you and how you want your rent money spent.
You said your priorities were:
The feedback received from the BIG Conversation event held in June and the Tenant Priorities survey issued from July to September, was used to set our plans and budgets for the next year and beyond.
Improving the condition of your home through planned maintenance Fast day-to-day repairs service to maintain the standard of your home
Investing in neighbourhood improvements 1. 2. 3.
This level of increase makes sure, with the rising costs of services, materials and staffing, that we cover our operating costs and continue to invest in your home and our communities.
This booklet details our plans for the next year, how your rent will be spent, what we achieved last year and what this increase means for you.
Your opinion matters, make sure you complete the survey and give us your views. Click on the survey link (being sent out on 2 December), phone us on 0141 638 0999 or return your paper copy to our office.
What are our plans for your top 3 services?
1. Improving the condition of your home through planned maintenance
You said that new bathrooms, kitchens and making your home energy efficient with new windows and doors were most important.
By the end of the current financial year 180 properties in Darnley will have new windows and doors.
Our programme next year will focus on installing electric showers, new front doors, boilers and kitchens
How do the different increase options affect our plans for next year?
With a 4.5% rent increase we will be able to deliver the following in 2025/26.
2. Providing a fast day-to-day repairs service to maintain the standard of your home
Secondly, a fast repair service was a top priority to you.
Our day-to-day repairs in 2023/24 were carried out faster than our target times.
We are committed to delivering a service that meets your expectations and provides value for money.
Over the next year will continue to improve by:
3.
3. Investing in neighbourhood improvements
We want our estates to be pleasant areas to live and work in.
Many of the services provided by external bodies have been cut and the Association has stepped in to support you. For example, we have provided bulk uplift services for flatted properties and cleared fly-tipping in each of our areas. This year we estimate that this one service will cost the Association over £50,000.
Making
our estates great together!
Our dedicated Estate Co-ordinator is working hard to improve our estates and ensure you are gaining value for money from the services you pay for. However, to make lasting improvements we need your help.
We would like to create community groups for each of our areas. These groups will be supported so they can turn ideas for community improvements into reality. Tell us in the rent consultation survey and get involved!
Goodbye to Gold Service
Our Gold Service incentive scheme will be coming to an end in December, with the final payment issued to members before Christmas.
Less than 30% of our tenants currently benefit from Gold Service and we want more people to benefit from the £25,000 budget that is set aside each year.
The survey will ask for your views on how this money could be better spent.
This year we also introduced Housing Perks, a mobile app available to all Glen Oaks tenants, helping you save on the essentials. Download the app and get saving today.
What does your rent money pay
for?
Interest and loan repayments
Cost of delivering services (staff/office overheads)
Day to day repairs
Planned maintenance and improvements
Cyclical works
Wider action / wider role
Service costs
Other fixed assets and bad debts
Factoring costs
Other
Owning and building our 1348 homes required loans (and funding) to pay for them and this is our biggest cost.
Investing in your home, through day-to-day repairs, planned maintenance and cyclical works are all a large part of where your rent goes, 32% in total.
Secondly, the operating costs for delivering and managing the services provided to you, paying for our staff and our office is a high proportion of our spending.
What additional support and services do we provide?
Over the last year we have provided additional support to you and our community.
£1 million boost to tenants benefits and income.
30 tablets in our digital lending library
11 classes & activities and 5 events
Provided a debt advice service through Stepchange
83 tenants received digital learning support
The support I received was life- changing. The adviser who visited me was incredibly compassionate and understanding. They helped reinstate my benefits, assisted me in getting essential items, and provided ongoing support for my mental health.
The welfare rights officer has helped me so much over the time we have been tenants. Not only did she help with benefits but also my mental health. She is an asset to Glen Oaks.
How are we progressing with our plans for 2024/25?
Last year we gave 2 options for the rent increase and, after listening to your views, went with the lower option of 4%
We have completed 78% of kitchen replacements.
We aimed to fit windows and doors in 144 homes. Including some carried over from 202324, we have completed 177 in 2024-25 and the total will be 180 by March 2025.
We shared with you what the 4% increase would allow us to plan for and this is our progress so far…
We planned to fit 24 close doors.
Currently out to tender & should start in March 2025.
We planned to install 34 door entry systems.
Currently out to tender & should start in March 2025.
How much will my rent increase?
If you want to calculate how much your own rent will increase, you can calculate it as follows: You can do this online at www.online-calculator.com
2
Are you worried about paying your rent?
If you are having difficulty paying your rent, you should contact us as soon as possible so that advice and assistance can be given before any major problems develop.
Your Housing Services Officer can help and can also refer you to other agencies that offer free advice on debt and budgeting. We also have inhouse Welfare Rights Advisors.
Our team will carry out a full benefit check to ensure that you are receiving all benefits that you may be eligible for.
You can contact us on 0141 638 0999 option 3 or email housingservicesstaff@glenoaks.org.uk
Your opinion matters!
Please take the time to read over the information within this booklet. Your view on the proposed increase is important to us and if you need any further information, or anything explained, contact us on 0141 638 0999 or email go@glenoaks.org.uk
A link to the survey will be sent to you via email or SMS on Monday 2 December. If we don’t have up to date contact information, or if you prefer to receive information by post, we will send a paper copy to you.
You can return this to our office or call us and our staff will be happy to take your feedback over the phone.
You will have until 5pm on Friday 20 December to complete the survey.
We will also be holding an information session in our office at 3 Kilmuir Drive, Arden to answer any questions you may have on Wednesday 4 December 3.30-6pm
After this, the Board will consider the feedback we have received and make a final decision. We will then let you know the outcome and tell you what your rent will be for 2025/26.
Glen Oaks Housing Association Limited, 3
0141 638 0999
go@glenoaks.org.uk
Our office opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 9am - 5pm Friday: 9am - 4pm
www.glenoaks.org.uk
@GlenOaksHousing
Wednesday – office closed. However, staff can be contacted from 9am – 1pm except on the first Wednesday of each month when training takes place.
