Scottish Government

2003

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER ONE CONTEXT AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
RENT-SETTING IN SOCIAL HOUSING: THE CONTEXT
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS
REPORT STRUCTURE
CHAPTER TWO RENT SETTING SYSTEMS: THE MENU
AN OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE RENT SETTING IN SCOTTISH LOCAL AUTHORITIES
INTRODUCTION
RENT SETTING SYSTEMS
POLICY ON RENT INCREASES
TENANT INVOLVEMENT IN RENT SETTING
CHARGING FOR SERVICES
RENT SCHEME ATTRIBUTES
RENT DIFFERENTIALS
VARIABILITY IN RENT LEVELS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER FOUR RENT SETTING IN REGISTERED SOCIAL LANDLORDS
INTRODUCTION
RENT SETTING SYSTEMS
POLICY ON RENT INCREASES
CHARGING FOR SERVICES
RENT SCHEME ATTRIBUTES AND RENT DIFFERENTIALS
SUMMARY
CHAPTER FIVE RENT PATTERNS AT THE LOCAL SCALE
INTRODUCTION
RENT SCHEME OUTCOMES IN ANGUS
RENT SCHEME OUTCOMES IN EDINBURGH
RENT SCHEME OUTCOMES IN INVERCLYDE
RENT SCHEME OUTCOMES IN NORTH LANARKSHIRE
RENT SCHEME OUTCOMES IN PERTH & KINROSS
RENT SCHEME OUTCOMES IN STIRLING
RENTS IN SHELTERED HOUSING
SUMMARY
CHAPTER SIX THE IMPACT OF RENTS AT THE LOCAL SCALE
INTRODUCTION
'DEMAND' AND TURNOVER
TRADING UP OR DOWN: THE IMPACT OF RENT DIFFERENTIALS
RENT ARREARS
BALANCED COMMUNITIES
OTHER ISSUES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER SEVEN DEVELOPING RENT INDICES
INTRODUCTION
INDEX TYPE
PATTERN OF STOCK
DATA REQUIREMENTS
DISPERSION
COSTS
EXAMPLES
SUMMARY
CHAPTER EIGHT CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
RENT STRUCTURES AND RENT SCHEME 'RATIONALITY'
RENT LEVELS
CHANGE AND ADJUSTMENT PROCESSES
HOUSING BENEFIT
ANNEX 1: RENT SETTING SYSTEMS IN SCOTLAND'S LOCAL AUTHORITIES, 2001
ANNEX 2: HARMONISATION OF FORMER DISTRICT COUNCIL RENT SCHEMES, POST 1996
ANNEX 3: PROPERTY/NEIGHBOURHOOD ATTRIBUTES IN COUNCIL COMPARABILITY RENT SCHEMES
ANNEX 4: LOCAL AUTHORITY RENT SCHEMES: PROPERTY SIZE AND TYPE WEIGHTS
ANNEX 5: LOCAL AUTHORITY GAV RENT SCHEMES, 2001
ANNEX 6: LOCAL AUTHORITY RENT DIFFERENTIALS BY PROPERTY SIZE
ANNEX 7: RENT DIFFERENTIALS
RENT DIFFERENTIALS ACROSS THE THREE RENTAL SECTORS
RSL RENTS AND RENT DIFFERENTIALS BY COUNCIL AREA
PRIVATE SECTOR RENTS AND RENT DIFFERENTIALS BY COUNCIL AREA
ANNEX 8: RSL TELEPHONE SURVEY: SAMPLE AND RESPONSES
ANNEX 9: PROPERTY ATTRIBUTES IN RSL COMPARABILITY RENT SCHEMES
ANNEX 10: ATTRIBUTE WEIGHTS IN THE RSL SECTOR
ANNEX 11: CASE STUDY AUTHORITIES AND THEIR RENT SCHEMES
ANNEX 12: WEEKLY RENTS IN THE CASE STUDY AREAS, 2001
REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 LA rent setting systems
Table 3.2 Council rent setting objectives
Table 3.3 Reasons for reviewing rent schemes
Table 3.4 Rent increase method, 1996-2001
Table 3.5 Importance of factors in annual rent increase decisions
Table 3.6 LA rent schemes: combined weights (property type & size)
Table 3.7 Rent differentials by type of rent scheme
Table 3.8 Property type rent differentials by rent scheme
Table 3.9 LA stock composition and average rents, April 2001
Table 3.10 Average LA rents by property size and type, April 2001
Table 4.1 Tenancy/stock types in RSLs
Table 4.2 Importance of factors in annual rent increase decisions
Table 4.3 Rent differentials by type of rent scheme and type of RSL
Table 4.4 RSL rent schemes: combined weights for property type and size
Table 5.1 Rents in Angus and the Gallowshade estate, 2001-02
Table 5.2 Rent differentials (by size) in the Angus Council area
Table 5.3 Contrasting rents in Edinburgh, 2002
Table 5.4 Rent differentials (by size) in Edinburgh
Table 5.5 Rents in Inverclyde, 2002
Table 5.6 Rent differentials (by size) in Inverclyde
Table 5.7 Contrasting rents in North Lanarkshire, 2002
Table 5.8 Rent differentials (by size) in North Lanarkshire
Table 5.9 Rents in Perth & Kinross, 2002
Table 5.10 Rent differentials (by size) in Perth & Kinross
Table 5.11 Rents in Stirling and the Raploch, 2002
Table 5.12 Rent differentials (by size) in Stirling
Table 5.13 Sheltered housing rents & service charges, 2002
Table 5.14 Rent differentials (by size) in sheltered housing, 2002

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure S1 Rent setting systems used by social landlords
Figure S2 Rent differentials by property size
Figure 3.1 LA rent setting systems, 2001
Figure 3.2 Date LA systems introduced
Figure 3.3 Planned changes to LA rent schemes
Figure 3.4 Tenant involvement in rent setting
Figure 3.5 Property attributes in council rent schemes
Figure 4.1 Type of RSLs in survey
Figure 4.2 Rent regimes managed by RSLs
Figure 4.3 Rent schemes (HAG funded assured and contractual tenancies)
Figure 4.4 Date RSL rent schemes introduced
Figure 4.5 RSL plans to change rent scheme
Figure 4.6 Property attributes in RSL rent schemes

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Illustration 3.1 Change in rent differentials in (former) Stirling District Council, 1984/85-1989/90
Illustration 3.2 The use of 'location' factors in council rent schemes
Illustration 4.1 Accounting for location or amenity in RSL rent schemes

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