A RECENT survey carried out independently for the Highland Council has revealed that 75% of council house tenants are satisfied with the overall quality of housing services provided by Highland Council and that 62% think their rent is good value for money.

However, Merkinchers are not all as enthusiastic as the statistics would suggest.

The survey, which was commissioned by Highland Council as part of the Option Appraisal, examined a range of options for the future ownership and management role of the council’s 19,000-strong housing stock.

We asked people who live in the Merkinch Community what their reaction was to the statistics which the council have released. Are you satisfied with quality of the council’s housing services? Do you think the Highland Council statistics are accurate? The answers ranged from:

• “When it comes to repairs they are very slow. They are all promises, no action. There is a lot of pussyfooting around and indecision.”
• “ We have security cameras installed next to our flats, but they are not switched on, and when they are on they are pointing in the wrong direction. That’s typically council for you. No, I don’t think that the rents are good value for money. I could be paying a mortgage at the same rate each month.”
• “I think the council are okay fixing repairs when requested if it is something which is considered important. If you report a heating or electricity fault they are on to it, everything else is put on the back burner. I think that the rents are good value for money, compared with private rents.”
• “I’ve been waiting for over 9 months to get my kitchen units fixed, it’s one thing after another. No I don’t think the Council survey is accurate.”