26 February 2009, 09/42
Council house rents rise in line with national
guidelines
Council house tenants will face a rent rise of 6.1% from April -
an average increase of around £3.62 a week.
West Lancs District Council has agreed to increase the rents in
line with Government rules that control rent levels and mean they
must be set in accordance with nationally-agreed guidelines.
Councillor Val Hopley, portfolio holder for housing, said: "The
government introduced a new programme of social rent reform back in
2002 which meant that council house rents had to be set in
accordance with a national formula which was intended to bring them
into line with rents in the private sector. The Council therefore
has little control over the level of rents and must set an increase
which is in line with the Government policy. This year, this will
mean an increase for tenants of an average of £3.62 a week."
The increase means that the average rent will rise from £59.30 a
week in 2008/09 to £62.92 in 2009/10. Rents are paid over a 48-week
period.
The Council has agreed to increase service charges at sheltered
accommodation by an average of 54 pence a week for Category 1 and
£1.37 for Category 2. Individual charges may be higher or lower
than the average.
Other service charges and rents for garages have been frozen for
2009/10. With regard to heating charges paid by residents in
sheltered accommodation, the Council has decided to wait until the
Council’s fuel supply contracts are re-negotiated in May 2009
before reviewing the rates for the coming year.
Related information