THE findings of a survey suggest more tenants than ever in Richmondshire are happy with their council homes, says the local authority.

Richmondshire District Council says its latest research has shown 85 per cent are satisfied with the service they receive from the authority, compared with 80 per cent two years ago.

Also on the increase is satisfaction with tenant participation, which the council says has gone up from 56 per cent to 64 per cent in the same two-year-period.

The report is also said to record a four per cent rise in satisfaction with both the speed with which the authority replies to inquiries and the attitude of its staff.

However, the survey revealed a fall in both the number of people happy that rents represented value for money and the level satisfied with the standard of accommodation, both down by four per cent in 2003.

Housing manager Colin Dales said he hoped a seven-year improvement plan would address at least some of the issues.

However, he said: "In terms of rent, the council has little control over the amounts set as this is dictated by central government."