Consultations

We are always keen to hear your views on our services.

Check out our latest consultations below. Remember, we're always keen to hear your views all year round. Find out how to get in touch with us on our Contact us page.

Rent setting 2024/25
 

All tenants were consulted on two options: 7.5% and 7.9%. The consultation brochure set out what each option would mean for services and investment.

West Lothian Housing Partnership (WLHP) homes transferred to Wheatley Homes East in September 2022. As part of the ballot proposal, a commitment to cap rent increases at no more than 2.5% was made for two years. This is the second and final year of that commitment. Tenants who live in ex-WLHP homes were informed of the proposed 2.5% increase and invited to provide feedback.

The consultation was administered by Civica – an independent organisation which specialises in consultations and verifying the results.

The results were as follows:

Rent optionsResponses
7.5%618 (70%)
7.9%271 (30%)
TOTAL889

The results of the consultation were reviewed by the Wheatley Homes East Board on 8 February 2024. The Board approved an increase of 7.5% and 2.5% for ex-WLHP properties.

Over the last three years, our rents increases are nearly 10% below the rate of inflation.

We’re here for you

If you are worried about keeping on top of your rent, get in touch with us straight away. We can help.

We can help with welfare benefits, energy bills, jobs and training opportunities, bursaries for students, free furniture, free books for children under five, support to get online, and much more.

Call us today on 0800  561  0088

Outcome of Allocations Policy review
 

Wheatley Group landlords consulted customers on three proposed changes to the existing Housing Information Advice and Letting Policy Framework, following recommendations from an independent review commissioned in 2021.  The consultation took place over a six-week period during June and July 2022.

Throughout the consultation period, over 71,000 consultation documents were sent to customers with links and QR codes to an online survey.  There was also an option for customers to receive a hard copy of the survey if needed  There was a six-week social media campaign, with 43 posts on  Facebook and Instagram reaching over 41,000 people.  Links to the survey were also added to the Wheatley Group website and all subsidiary websites.

Wheatley Group held 13 customer focus groups, both online and face-to-face.  A total of 235 customers booked on to these sessions. Customers who preferred not to participate were also offered individual phone calls.

A total of 2455 customers from all categories responded to the anonymous online survey. The breakdown of those completing the survey was:

Allocations consultation graph

The survey was made up of 25 questions based on the recommendations from an independent review commissioned in 2021.  There were three key questions:

  • We have homes in 19 local authority areas, do you think we should have the ability to reflect circumstances in local areas where this would support localised housing need?
  • During the pandemic we moved to a new process for homeless applicants, where we worked with local authorities to provide a streamlined service for our most vulnerable applicants.  You told us during the review last year this new process was working well.  We plan to continue with this service providing additional support for our most vulnerable applicants, do you agree with this?
  • As part of the review last year, you told us that Band E has too many different types of applicants.  Do you think we should separate our properties with an age restriction (i.e Livingwell) into a separate band?

The response from those who expressed an opinion:

QuestionResponse
Matching homeless customers86% agree
Ensuring we have flexibility to meet local needs across local authorities96% agree
Livingwell to move to its own band91% agree

Stakeholder responses
Wheatley Group contacted over 50 stakeholders, local authorities and Registered Tenant Organisations with a separate consultation. Four stakeholders responded to the survey, two were from local authorities, one from RTO and the other from a housing advice charity.

QuestionAgreeDisagreeNeither agree
or disagree
Matching homeless customers    4  
Ensuring we have flexibility to meet local needs across local authorities    4  
Livingwell to move to its own band    3                  1

Next steps
All comments were analysed and the Housing Information Advice and Letting Policy and Framework updated to reflect the outcome of the consultation.  An updated framework was presented to Wheatley Group Board for approval in August 2022 and  RSL subsidiary boards in September 2022.

The new Housing Information Advice and Letting Policy and Framework will formally launch in Spring 2023.

Guide to consultations
 

We’re always keen to hear your views on our services and how we can get better. One way we do this is by carrying out consultations.

All of our consultations follow these seven principles:

  • Integrity – each consultation has an honest intention, that we will listen to and be influenced by what our tenants tell us
  • Visibility – affected tenants and other affected stakeholders are reasonably aware of the consultation
  • Accessibility – affected tenants and affected other stakeholders have reasonable access to the consultation. We will use digital means of ensuring access to consultations where appropriate
  • Transparency – it is clear when the consultation closes, who is collating the responses and whether responses will be published
  • Disclosure – any appropriate information applicable to the consultation is made available
  • Fair interpretation – consultation responses will be collated and analysed objectively
  • Publication – it is made clear of where and when the consultation report will be available.