Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) - Annual Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 December 2024
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 11 December 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Update to Argyll and Bute Council Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee Michelle Mundie Chief Executive 11th December 2024 1
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Investment Programme In previous years extensive programmes of investment have been carried out. This has resulted in the programme for this year being targeted to address existing components that are coming to the end of their useful life, as identified as part of our stock condition survey (this excludes any work done through our Warm Homes Team), and we will look to compile larger investment programmes for the coming years. Works will include windows, doors, heating systems, kitchens and bathrooms The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has recently published a recommended practice report for an integrated asset management plan. We are currently reviewing and developing our integrated asset management plan in line with the regulators recommendations to ensure that assets (tenants’ homes) are sustainable and remain fit for purpose in the short, medium, and long term. 2
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Adaptations Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has been awarded £247,500.00 in Scottish Government Grant, this is less than previous years due to budget cuts within the Government. The funding is used to install essential aids and adaptations for our most vulnerable customers across Argyll and Bute. In Oban, Lorn and the Isles we have completed 34 adaptations this year to assist our customers to continue living in their home safely. We have a further 16 adaptions for the area on hold due to the reduction in Government funding. 3
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Warm Homes Fund Our Warm Homes Fund Project is continuing to improve the energy efficiency of our properties by installing multiple features. In the Oban, Lorn & Isles area we have installed to our properties: • 26 Solar Photovoltaics Panels (SPV) • 17 Air Source Heat pump heating systems • 10 loft insulation We are working with a number of contractors that have been awarded ECO4 funding and the number of properties that will benefit from this partnership will increase next year, this will include properties on the islands. 4
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” BEIS Whole House Retrofit Programme The Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy (BEIS) programme is now complete In Oban, Lorn and the Isles. 40 properties across the area received all of the following retrofit energy efficiency measures: • Air Source Heat pump systems • External and Internal wall insulation • Loft insulation top up • Triple glazed windows and doors These improvements could see our tenants benefiting from a reduction of up to 60% in energy costs. 5
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” 43 Achlonan, Taynuilt Before The property had: • Solid fuel heating system • Standard loft insulation • As built cavity and external wall insulation • Double glazing 6 (BEIS) Whole House Retrofit Programme
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” 43 Achlonan, Taynuilt After During the retrofit project, the property received the following improvements: • Air Source Heat Pump heating system • Cavity wall insulation • External wall insulation • Loft insulation • Triple glazed windows and doors 7 (BEIS) Whole House Retrofit Programme
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Exemplar Estates Drainage works have been carried out successfully at McCaig Road, Oban, to address flooding on the path and adjacent gardens
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Putting our Tenants and our Communities First Welfare Rights ACHA’s Welfare Rights Team have helped secure unclaimed benefits and grants for out tenants. Below are the results for the period since the 1st April 2024: 9 Area Total Income Number of Clients Lomond £ 434,568.52 129 Oban Lorn & the Isles £ 578,994.95 217 Mid Argyll & Kintyre £ 424,437.60 153 Cowal & Bute £ 626,353.00 244 Totals £2,064,354.07 743
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Other Updates • Our Welfare Rights Officers have also secured awards totalling £59,930 for 239 tenants through the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) Fuel Fund, and made 178 referrals for assistance to other agencies such as Ali Energy and the Flexible Food Fund. • To assist with the Housing Emergency, 20 properties have been acquired through the Argyll and Bute Buy Back Initiative, with a further one committed. One of the properties purchased is located in Dunollie, Oban, and another property we have committed to is located on the Island of Tiree. 10
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Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” Other Updates • Gypsy Traveller sites; we are lobbying the Scottish Government with respect to accessing funding to carry out necessary upgrades at our 2 sites, one of which is at Bayview, Ledaig. • Feasibility work with North Mull Woodland Development Trust to develop sites on the Isle of Ulva (5 properties) and at Dervaig (4 properties). • From our most recent tenant satisfaction survey, satisfaction with our overall service has increased from 83.75% in 2021 to 92.03% in 2023. The Scottish average is 86.5%. • Aids and adaptations; significant cuts to funding for housing associations means that many tenants face being trapped in unsuitable accommodation or experiencing prolonged stays in hospital. 11
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Other Updates Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” 12 Chartered Institute of Scotland (CIH) Scotland Housing Awards 2024 • ACHA was shortlisted in two categories for its development project at Eton Avenue, Dunoon; The “Working in Partnership” category, where the Association worked in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council Housing Services and Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership to build 4 specially designed and adapted wheelchair houses for families with particular needs on the Home Argyll housing waiting list, and the “Excellence in Regeneration and Sustainability” category.
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Other Updates Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” 13 The new properties at Eton Avenue, Dunoon
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Other Updates • ACHA’s 10 10 10 initiative; 13 schools in Argyll and Bute received an award in 2024 with 2 of the schools being located in Oban, Lorn and the Isles. Oban High School received £1,000 and Park Primary in Oban received £500. • ACHA’s Community Action Fund; we continue to welcome applications for funding of up to £500 from the Community Action Fund. 23 registered charities have received an award from the fund of up to £500 so far in 2024/25, including 9 in Oban Lorn and the Isles; An Tobar and Mull Theatre, Adventure Oban, Oban Pride, Developing Potential, Grab Trust, Hope Kitchen, Highlands & Islands Music and Dance Festival, 1st Argyll (Lorn) Scout Group and Oban Winter Festival. Vision – “Delivering Quality Housing and More Homes in Great Places to Live and Work.” 14