COUNCIL housing rents look set to rise by 1.5 per cent from April 1 – an extra £1.45 a week on average.
Rugby Borough Council (RBC) will consider the proposed rent increase for the 2021/22 financial year at a special meeting of the council tomorrow (Tuesday February 2).
The recommended increase brings the average weekly rent to £86.59.
Service charges at council properties look set to largely remain unchanged.
The report to full council also recommends expanding the rollout of new, energy-efficient boilers to a further 610 council homes and installing new bathrooms at 125 properties.
The report also recommends increasing the council’s housing stock through its acquisition programme, with plans to buy around a dozen properties during 2021/22.
An RBC spokesperson said: “The proposed rise keeps council rents well below rents in the private sector, with the average weekly rent of a two-bedroomed council property £92.28 compared to £153.49 in Rugby’s private sector.”
RBC communities and homes spokeswoman Coun Emma Crane added: “While we’re always conscious of the impact of a rent increase on our tenants, the proposed 1.5 per cent increase allows us to carry on our programme of improvements to council homes while keeping our rents significantly below market rents in the private sector and those of housing associations.
“The proposals also mean we can invest in new properties, expanding both the number and choice of homes we can offer residents.”
