LOCHS councillors have hit out at what they feel is disrespectful behaviour towards tenants by housing staff.

Alex Campbell and Ann Bain told Wednesday's meeting of Cowdenbeath Area Committee that they were aware of situations where staff had not dealt appropriately with tenants' queries.

They were speaking after the committee was told that more than 150 new homes for let were to be built in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area over the next year.

Councillor Campbell said: "I have dealt with several complaints from tenants who have said that staff have been rude to them while they have been lodging information about their property.

"It would see that some members of staff seem to think that points made by tenants are trivial. That may be the case to them but for the tenants these are important issues that they need addressing.

"Our tenants are our customers and they must be respected.

"It is not all officers but there are one or two who are very disrespectful to tenants."

And Ann Bain said: "I had an experience at the office in Cowdenbeath where I heard tenants being treated appallingly by staff.

"I was there at a time where a tenant who was lodging a problem was treated very badly and was basically told not to be stupid.

"That is simply totally inadequate behaviour. Tenants are our clients and deserved to be treated properly."

Housing service manager Louise Sutherland said that that was indeed not right and it would be brought to staff's attention the need for a correct approach to dealing with tenants.