Rent increase pegged at 1.9%

For the second year in succession, The Highland Council is recommending a council house rent increase below the rate of inflation.

The Housing and Social Work Committee is recommending an average increase of 1.9% which is 3.3% below inflation.

This will see the average weekly rent increase by £1.26 from £66.19 to £67.45.

A 1.9% increase will also be applied to hostel rents, gypsy/traveller site pitches, garage and garage sites.

For the second successive year there will be no increase in sheltered housing warden charges in 2012/13.

The full council will confirm the increase at its budget setting meeting on 9 February.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of the Housing and Social Work Committee said:  “We have listened to tenants and our Housing and Property Service has made efficiencies which for the second year running has allowed us to contain the increase well below inflation.  This is good news for our tenants.

"It also allows us to maintain the progress in bringing all our council houses up to Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 and to continue our council house building programme.”

In 2012-13, the council will spend £15,385,000 on repairs and maintenance of its stock of over 13,000 council houses.

The council will also spend approximately £10 million on council house building.

-Ends-