Anger at Rotherham council homes rent rise plan

Tenants fear the rent rise will mean money is taken out of the local community

Plans by Rotherham council to impose a rent increase of nearly 9% for council house tenants has come under fire.

The authority wants to bring in an 8.69% hike, taking the average weekly council rent from £58.54 to £63.61.

Rotherham Federation of Tenants and Residents (Rotherfed) said it would have a "terrible impact" on people on low incomes and increase arrears.

The council said rents were "historically low" and the rise would bring it in line with other councils.

The council's cabinet is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposals.

Government formula

The government recommended a national guideline increase of 6.8% or £3.97 and Rotherham's guideline increase was 7.18%.

Clive Hartley, from Rotherfed, said: "People cannot afford a rent rise of this magnitude.

"I am not saying the rents should not go up, it's a fact of life, but why is it going up so drastically?"

He added: "The guideline rent for Rotherham is 7.18% and I would have had no argument if they'd raised it by that amount. But to raise it 8.6%, I don't see how that can be justified."

Councillor Jahangir Akhtar, the council's cabinet member for housing and neighbourhoods, said under the government's prescribed formula, the average rent increase for the town's council tenants was 8.69%.

"Since 2006 we have spent nearly £300m on bringing housing stock up to decent home standard.

"If we don't increase rent levels to the levels in the future where we can keep investing in our stock it will be to the detriment of our housing stock and tenants as well."