Council rents up

COUNCIL tenants in Rotherham can expect a rent increase in line with inflation from April onwards.

Councillors voted on Wednesday to approve an average rise of £1.66 a week—2.91 per cent—for thousands of tenants across the borough.

The average rent for 2009/10 was £56.88 collected over 48 weeks and the

proposed 2010/11 average weekly rent, also collected over 48 weeks, is due to rise to £58.54.

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On the back of a £100,000 improvement scheme, garage rents across the borough—which went up 4.5 per cent last year— will also increase by 2.91 per cent.

A report detailing the increases said that the council had spent more than £250 million improving council housing under the Decent Homes Scheme, including £50 in 2009/10, and planned a further £8.5 million investment in the next financial year.

Steeper increases are expected to be imposed on district heating users.