Council housing rent set to rise by more than 7%

Income from the proposed rise would go towards housing improvements and repairs, the council said

A council is proposing to increase housing rents for more than 17,000 tenants by 7.7% from April.

The rise would mean an average increase of £6.17 per week, Stoke-on-Trent City Council said.

The additional income from the plans would go towards repairing and improving council housing stock, it added.

The rise was in line with government guidance and rents were among the lowest in the country, the council stressed.

"We are committed to raising living standards in the city," said councillor Chris Robinson, who insisted the authority also recognised the financial pressure tenants were under and said there would be help available.

More than 14,500 homes in the city were set to benefit from upgrades over the next five years as part of an £117m investment programme, the council said.

The programme included ensuring all properties met a minimum energy performance rating by 2030, remodelling houses to accommodate larger families and building new ones.

Average rent for "general needs" housing in Stoke-on-Trent in 2022-23 was £75.02 per week while the national average was £93.10, said the council.

The proposal will be considered by the council's cabinet on 16 January.