Housing for Varying Needs Review - Aberdeen City Council

NeedsHousing for Varying Needs Review8.11 It is worth noting at this stage that the greatest area of contention withour tenants is the apparent inconsistency of charging for housingsupport services where neighbours in similar financial circumstances arecharged, or not, different sums of money depending on when theirtenancy began.8.12 In response to the Customer Satisfaction Survey carried out in May2010, 67.2% of tenant’s who responded indicated they disagreed orstrongly disagreed with the statement “The current system of only sometenants paying for the support service is fair”.8.13 In June 2011, a two day workshop was held to reach agreement on theprinciples and framework that will inform the policy for charging forservices in Aberdeen City Council’s sheltered housing.8.14 The workshop involved staff, tenants and representatives from RSLswho discussed a variety of topics. Appendix 11 shows the “Quad ofAims” and the attendees.8.15 The feedback from this workshop has informed the content of theReview to date and the outcomes will be incorporated into theimplementation/action plan to be developed further in stage two of theReview.9 Guest Room Facilities at Sheltered and Very ShelteredHousing Developments9.1 Guest facilities for overnight stays are provided at forty of Aberdeen CityCouncil’s forty nine sheltered/very sheltered housing developments.9.2 The facilities in our guest rooms range from “hostel” style to “hotel”standard. Whilst some accommodation has been purpose built and offerguests exclusive use; other guests access a room within a flat and sharebathroom and/or kitchen facilities potentially with other guests who arenot known to them.9.3 At twenty two multi storey blocks, the properties were formerly let as flatsand have been adapted to provide guest accommodation. Purpose builtguest rooms are provided at seventeen developments which are mainlylocated in low rise, newer developments. Linens and towels areprovided at all locations and the provision of tea/coffee making facilitiesis selective and has usually been supplied by the tenants group.9.4 The charge for a pre booked stay is £15.30 per person per night, acrossall forty nine developments. Where a visit is made for a medicalemergency or bereavement, on site staff may use their discretion inapplying the charge.21