More homes and value for money on the agenda at Maryhill
Maryhill Housing’s members were told this week at their AGM that one hundred new homes are on the way.
The well attended AGM held in Maryhill was given the good news by Chair Roger Popplewell who said the Association was pressing ahead with its biggest housebuilding programme in years.
Three sites had been identified in the community and the Association was hopeful work would begin next year.
In his address to members, Roger also said the Association was pursuing a vigorous value for money strategy and identifying savings where it could - all in an effort to keep rents affordable.
Roger told the meeting that the Association had spent £3.8 million improving homes in 2017/18 – almost double the £2 million spent in the previous year.
Roger added: “We have made some other changes too, namely giving tenants a named housing officer to create a more personal service – something that has emerged from listening to tenants and what they would like to see.
“In terms of improving services, repairs timescales have been reduced, there is now a faster turnaround of letting empty homes and rent arrears have also been reduced.”
Chief Executive Bryony Willett also touched on listening to what tenants had to say by reminding them of the Association’s Service Improvement Panel – set up to scrutinise the work of the organisation.
It was fulfilling an important task in looking at the work of the organisation. One of its recent achievements was its significant involvement in the preparation of the Annual Review – launched at the AGM - with the Panel’s recommendations on design and content implemented by the Association in full.
Bryony said the organisation was committed to its Investment Programme and would pay particular attention to tackling energy efficiency.
The AGM attendees were also told that Maryhill was continuing to look at ways of delivering some services “in house” where possible rather than using contractors in an effort to save money.