TENANTS of Glasgow’s biggest housing association will see rents rise by 3.9% this year.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow, formerly GHA, has set the rise after tenants voted on a range of options in a rent consultation.

Last year the Glasgow Times reported how tenants were given the option of three increases - of 3.9%, 4.4% and 4.9% - but said anything below 6% would mean services would be affected.  

READ MORE: Housing association tenants in Glasgow face rent hikes of up to 9%

The association said all three would impact on services and the 3.9% rise, it says is among the lowest in the country, will mean some investment programmes will be cut.

Tenants voted in their thousands and overwhelmingly opted for the lowest increase of 3.9%.

The vote saw 72% choose the lowest option, 14% wanted the 4.4% and 14% were willing to see a rise of 4.9% put on rents.

Former Cube Housing tenants, who are now part of Wheatley Homes, will see a 1% rise in their rents.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow said it received the highest-ever response rate on record from tenants.

For the Wheatley tenants, 3500 chose the lowest option, 671 the middle and 697 the higher.

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A Wheatley Homes Glasgow spokesperson said: “We have listened carefully to what our tenants have told us and we have done everything we can to keep rents as low as possible.

“Following the city-wide consultation, we received the highest response on record with tenants voting in favour of a 3.9% increase, an average of £3.61 per week, which is well below the national average of 6.1%.

“Some spending on planned investments will be reduced, along with support for some employability programmes, however, we will still be able to protect services and investment in homes.

“We urge any tenant worried about their rent to get in touch with us straight away. We have a range of support services to help.”

Sean Clerkin, campaign coordinator of Scottish Tenants Organisation, said: “Tenants have listened to their representatives such as ourselves who encouraged them to use their collective power in this vote because they are going through an existential cost-of-living crisis where they cannot afford to feed themselves and their children and cannot put on their heating during the cold weather.

“This major victory for tenants in Glasgow means Wheatley Housing Group tenants in Glasgow will not have to pay the anticipated 6.1% average rent increase that social landlords expect tenants throughout Scotland to pay.

“This showing of effective tenant power will encourage tenants of other social landlords to resist large rent increases in the days and weeks ahead.”