Housing news: rent consultation begins and Landlord report published

Consultation with tenants ongoing as our landlord report is published.

Landlord report to tenants published

Our latest landlord report to tenants has been published.

Covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 the report provides an insight into the work of our housing teams during that period.

Positives include the delivery of 71 new build properties, good performance on emergency and non-emergency repairs and a high level of tenant satisfaction.

New policies and strategies to reduce the number of empty properties and reduce the re-let turnaround times are showing improvements and we will continue this positive work.

Homelessness remains a challenge as we continue to find ourselves in a housing emergency, however the team will continue to do their best to reduce the time people spend in temporary accommodation. 

Read the full report online and the news release here.

Rent consultation process

Council tenants are being asked for their views on a proposed minimum 6.5% increase in rents during 2027/28 as part of our rent consultation for the next financial year. This equates to an average of £6.09 per week and is below last year’s 7% increase.

The resulting investment would allow us to continue to provide housing services and invest in our existing and new council housing. Our rents remain some of the lowest in Scotland for council housing.

All council tenants have been sent a letter or email explaining the proposals for a rent increase for 2027-28 and asking for their feedback. 

The views of tenants and the East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel (ELTRP) will be considered and a report then taken to the special council meeting in February 2027, when councillors will take a decision on the wider council budget – with the rent increase forming part of that process. 

The consultation runs until Sunday 15 November.

Read the full story on our website.