Council house rent increase slammed as “unfair and unjust”

A rent increase of 8.1 per cent for council homes as been described by the Chairwoman of Rochdale Tenants’ Panel, Lynne Brosnan, as “unfair and unjust.”

As reported on Rochdale Online earlier this week council house rent is to increase by 8.1 per cent. This follows an increase last year of 7.15 per cent.

Ms Brosnan said she doesn’t blame the council because they are following guidance but she says the increase shows the government is “out of touch.”

Ms Brosnan said: “This increase see’s the average rent rise to around £80. On top of that we will see a rise in water rates and on top of that as already stated the worst cases of fuel poverty in the country.

“It will be a struggle for many who are already on minimum wage and low wages who are suffering wage freezes. It will also affect pensioners who are just above the line and cannot claim any help via housing benefit.”

She added: “In years gone by you worked overtime to pay for small luxuries such as holidays. Now people are working longer hours just to pay the household bills.

“Personally I do not blame RMBC, they will suffer penalties if they do not meet the deadline, but these increases are unfair and unjust and shows just how out of touch governments really are. A quick look via Google see’s that other local authority’s rents are having to impose high rent increases because of the 2015/16 deadline. The most economically deprived are the ones that are suffering the most.”

Ms Brosnan concluded: “I know there are some that will say these rents are low in comparison to the private sector housing but this has to be judged on income. I have never understood the term affordable rented housing when for many it is just not affordable without struggling. It will be interesting to see rent arrears figures now and then again what they are in twelve months time.”

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