Anger over rent increase

Residents have expressed their anger over a council house rent increase of 8.1 per cent.

The increase, as reported on Rochdale Online, brings the total increase in council house rent to over 15 per cent in the past two years.

In 2011/12 the rent was increased by 7.15 per cent.

In an online poll we asked if ‘is it reasonable that council house rent will increase by 8.1 per cent in 2012/13, following an increase of 7.15 per cent in 2011/12?’

So far 16 people have voted that they think the increase is ‘unreasonably high,’ two people have voted to say they think the increase is reasonable.

One poster, named Andrew Birch, said: “Any increase is unreasonable when you take into consideration the building of a new set of council offices that must be costing millions which could be used to combat the rises. But it makes no difference, they will do as they like and it's all a case of mind over matter. They don't mind and we don't matter.”

Afzal Miah, added: “I believe we should get a wage increase. I mean everything is going up, but what we work for never changes, just hard work and just a hard life.”

To take part in our poll visit: http://www.facebook.com/rochdaleonline
http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/66074/inflation-busting-81pc-council-house-rent-increase