Council tenants are set to see an average rent rise of around four per cent from April.
This increase will mean average rent goes up by £4.37 a week to help the council fund improving and modernising tenants’ homes and estates.
The money will also help pay for responsive repairs, neighbourhood wardens, tenancy management and caretaking, and estate-based environmental work.
The proposals are in line with the national formula for social housing rents, which was introduced to keep rents affordable and comparable across the social housing sector.
The rent increase was agreed by the Tenants and Leaseholders Panel on 6 February, with final rent levels to be approved at full council on 26 February.
Councillor Dudley Mead, deputy leader of the council, said: “We understand that nobody wants to see their rent go up and especially during this difficult economic climate.
“We would not be making these changes unless they were absolutely necessary, and have done our utmost to keep any increase to a minimum.
“Council rents are still excellent value for money and remain lower than those in the private sector.
“They will enable us to continue maintaining and improving tenants’ homes and ensure they remain of a decent standard.”
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