Rotherham council homes rent rise plan approved

Plans by Rotherham council to impose a rent increase of 8.69% for council house tenants have been approved.

The authority's cabinet has agreed changes to bring in the average weekly council rent up from £58.54 to £63.61.

Councillor Jahangir Akhtar said the authority had little choice but to impose a rise because of the government's formula for calculating rents.

Tenants said it would have a "terrible impact" on people on low incomes.

Mr Akhtar said: "In the past the authority has been able to ensure that the rents it charges its tenants are amongst the lowest in the country.

"However, this year budgets nationwide are under considerable pressure and the new coalition government has determined that under the process local authorities have to use to determine annual rent increases, Rotherham must make an average rent increase of 8.69%.

" Although the rents are still among the cheapest in the country and half the cost of rents in the private sector, I deeply regret that the authority has been placed in the position of increasing rents to this level."