The Scottish Housing Regulator has found serious failings in both of Perth & Kinross Council’s Gypsy/Traveller sites. It published the findings in its updated engagement plan for the Council today.
The Regulator took action to investigate after residents of both sites raised concerns. The residents of the Double Dykes site raised concerns relating to the standard of accommodation as well as the Council’s approach to its communication and engagement with the residents. The residents of the Bobbin Mill site raised separate concerns about the standard of accommodation and the Council’s approach to engaging with residents.
The Regulator investigated the concerns raised. It found that in both sites, Perth & Kinross Council had failed to meet its obligations under the Scottish Social Housing Charter and that the sites do not meet the Scottish Government’s Minimum Site Standards.
The Council is engaging with the Regulator and is working constructively to address the residents’ concerns and deliver the necessary improvements. The Council is progressing modernisation and improvement works which include plans to replace residents’ accommodation and other upgrades at the Double Dykes site. It will receive public subsidy from Scottish Government to help achieve this. The Council also has plans to carry out a feasibility study to identify potential future improvements to the Bobbin Mill site.
George Walker, Chair of the Regulator, said “Being able to bring serious concerns to us is an important safeguard for tenants where a group of tenants have serious concerns and their landlord has not put this right.
We investigated the serious concerns raised with us at the Double Dykes and Bobbin Mill Gypsy/Traveller sites about the quality of accommodation and poor communication.
We will engage with Perth & Kinross Council as it takes forward the necessary improvements to address the failings at both sites.”
Read the updated engagement plan for Perth & Kinross Council.
Notes to editors
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The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) was established on 1 April 2011 under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Its objective is to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants and others who use local authority and RSL housing services. The Regulator operates independently of Scottish Ministers and is accountable directly to the Scottish Parliament. It assumed its full regulatory responsibilities on 1 April 2012. The Regulator consists of the Chair and eight Board members. More information about the Regulator can be found on its website at www.housingregulator.gov.scot
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The Regulator sets out how it regulates social landlords in its published Regulatory framework – Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland.
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More information about how the Regulator deals with serious concerns is available in section 6 of its Regulatory Framework: https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/for-landlords/regulatory-framework/#section-6
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SHR published more information about its factsheets for tenants and service users and landlords on reporting serious concerns here https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/about-us/news/scottish-housing-regulator-publishes-factsheets-on-raising-serious-concerns-about-a-landlord/