Inflation busting 8.1% council house rent increase

Rent charges on council homes are to increase by 8.1 per cent for 2012/13.

The decision to implement the increases was made at a Cabinet meeting held on Monday (30 January).

The report presented to the Cabinet, stated: “The 2012/13 formula rent for Rochdale is £68.56 per week as per the Government’s rent restructuring formula. The average actual rent will be £64.80 per week based on an 8.1 per cent increase.”

The increase for 2011/12 was 7.15 per cent.

The Council is currently going through the process of transferring its housing stock to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), subject to approval. If the transfer goes ahead RBH will become the landlord and have responsibility for setting rent levels for its tenants.

The report states: “The rent increase would be the same whether the stock transfer goes ahead or not, as the same rent restructuring formula applies to both local authorities and housing associations.”

Councillors also approved that charges for garage rents, amenity and careline charges, furniture charges, rent references and deeds of postponement are increase by 2.5 per cent.