GOVERNMENT'S FORCED RENT INCREASES WOULD HIT COUNCIL TENANTS HARD SAY YORK LIBERAL DEMOCRATS (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

GOVERNMENT'S FORCED RENT INCREASES WOULD HIT COUNCIL TENANTS HARD SAY YORK LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

January 15, 2009 12:00 AM

York Liberal Democrat Councillors are calling on the government to delay a proposed 7.7% increase in council house rents to prevent further financial troubles for tenants, already put under pressure by the credit crunch.

The government's policy of bringing council house rents into line across the country, announced in 2000, means that similar properties should be charged similar rents by 2012 regardless of who owns the property. This is known as rent convergence.

The government is currently proposing that the convergence deadline is extended to 2023/24 but even this will mean that the average council rent increase will be 6%. There is currently no proposal for this to be extended beyond the next financial year 2009/10.

Liberal Democrat Councillors will propose a motion to full council on the 22nd of January calling on the government to extend the endpoint of the convergence of council house rents to allow for a more gradual increase in rents.

Councillor Sue Galloway, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services condemned the government's policy. She said, "The government should recognise that many families are struggling to pay their bills as it is and these increases in rents will only make the things worse."

"An extension to the endpoint for convergence of council house rent would allow a more gradual increase and would give tenants more time to adjust their budgets."