Working for You Maintenance Workforce
 The repairs service is a key area for tenant satisfaction. Weslo's maintenance team carry out household repairs in the core trades of joinery, plumbing, electrical, builderwork and gas servicing.
Almost 9,000 repairs are carried out annually. In 2004/05, 99.92% of these were completed within the stated response times
Rents and Spend
Tenants of Weslo have a 10 year guarantee that annual rent rises will be limited to a maximum of inflation + 1%. The average rent is nearly 6% per month lower than if the houses had remained in the ownership of Scottish Homes and yet over £8m has been spent on the fabric of the houses since 1994. A large proportion of this money has been spent on Central Heating Systems (all transferred houses now have full house central heating) replacement windows (double glazing as standard), doors and roughcasting.
Tenant Satisfaction Levels
Weslo has commissioned three tenants satisfaction surveys. The first in October 1994 as much to pinpoint the situation inherited from Scottish Homes as to identify areas of concern for our tenants. The second, in October 1995 was to plot changes in tenant opinion following on from changes in policy and service delivery that we introduced. A third survey was commissioned to mark Weslo's fifth anniversary. The first survey showed that 19% of tenants felt the service had improved and 75% were satisfied overall. The tracking survey one year later produced comparable figures of 34% and 87%. A subsequent survey carried out independently by a student at Stirling University in 1997 found comparable figures of 49% and 91% and following the fifth anniversary survey it was gratifying to note that the overall satisfaction level of our tenants has risen to 96%. A further survey has been carried out recently (November 2005) and results will be issued shortly - click here for further details http://www.weslo-survey.co.uk
Clearly the Company is meeting the service expectations of the vast majority of its tenants, who voted so positively in the initial ballot for transfer in 1993.
Voluntary Improvement Scheme
In July 1996, Weslo introduced a Voluntary Improvement Scheme for new kitchens. During the scheme's lifetime over 1000 kitchens were fitted. The scheme ended in 2003 when Weslo's Board decided to initiate a programme to renew kitchens to the remainder of houses not fitted under the Scheme and this programme should be completed by the end of 2005
Flexible Tenure Scheme
Weslo pioneered our innovative Flexible Tenure Scheme in April 1997 to help owners with the problems caused by mortgage arrears and repossession by allowing them to apply to Weslo to become tenants. The Scheme was influential as a forerunner to the Scottish Executive's National Mortgage to Rent Scheme and allowed 43 owners to become Weslo tenants and remain in their family home. |
