Council leaders back maximum rent increase

The proposed increase of 2.7% would see an average weekly bill hike of £3.16 for 17,000 tenants

Plans to increase council tenants' rent by 2.7%, the maximum permitted under government guidelines, have been backed by leaders in Stoke-on-Trent.

The rise proposed by the city council would mean that from April, 17,000 tenants would pay an average of £3.16 more a week.

Cabinet members voted to support the proposal and said the city would still have some of the cheapest council rents in the country.

A final decision is to be taken at full council meeting on Thursday.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children's services, said: "People are never happy when their rents go up. But the rents in the city are very good value, compared to other similar authorities. We still charge a lot less, and I think we need to recognise that."

In a league table of 19 similar local authorities, Stoke-on-Trent had the third lowest average rent in 2023/24.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.