NEARLY nine out of ten York council tenants are happy with the way their homes are being managed, a new survey has found.

In a representative sample of 800 tenants, satisfaction levels for 2002 increased by 12 points compared with 2001 to 89 per cent - matching the highest overall satisfaction figure. Dissatisfaction with the service also fell in 2002 from 14 per cent to eight per cent.

The findings are included in a report on the council's Annual Housing Services Monitor which is being discussed at a meeting on Monday, February 3.

Specific areas of satisfaction included:

Overall satisfaction with the repairs service increased to 84 per cent - its highest level since the survey began in 1990

92 per cent of tenants reported that workers and inspectors turned up on time for repairs appointments

79 per cent of tenants were satisfied with the customer services team's handling of inquiries. Only 47 per cent of tenants were satisfied with the way the council tackled nuisance complaints such as noise - but this represented an increase of seven per cent compared to last year.

The report comes three months after the city's 8,600 council tenants and their families voted by 93 per cent to keep the council as their landlord in a city-wide "stock options" consultation.

Last year the housing management service was also given a government two-star rating - placing York in the top quarter of all housing authorities.

Councillor Ruth Potter, the council's executive member for housing, said: "Although external assessment is important, the opinions of our customers are crucial in assessing performance and we are extremely pleased with the general rise in satisfaction and rising approval in key areas.

"The results of the survey are a tribute to the hard work of staff during the past year and also to the positive relationship which exists between the council and its tenants.

"However, there are still some issues of concern, such as tackling rent arrears, the decline in the speed of letting empty homes and providing better communications with customers."

But Liberal Democrat leader Coun Steve Galloway claims the figures are the product of Labour "spin".

Coun Galloway said: "Most of all tenants are worried about antisocial behaviour and lack of security on the estates.

"Yet the council chooses not to probe too deeply in these areas fearing depressing the overall score of their survey."

Updated: 11:46 Saturday, January 25, 2003