Rent increases for St Albans district council tenants put on hold
RENT increases for St Albans District Council tenants will be lower than originally expected after a surprise announcement from the Government. The council were set to increase rents by an average of 6.79 per cent from April 1 following Government guidel
RENT increases for St Albans District Council tenants will be lower than originally expected after a surprise announcement from the Government.
The council were set to increase rents by an average of 6.79 per cent from April 1 following Government guidelines but this has been put on hold following intervention from Housing Minister Margaret Beckett.
She has sent out a letter to all local authorities offering them the chance to bid for additional subsidies from the Government in return for them reducing rent increases.
At Wednesday night's district council meeting, the options on how to deliver the rent cuts were discussed.
It was agreed that the council would not implement any rent increases until they were given more detailed information about the amount of financial help they would receive. The details are expected in May. There will then be a catch-up in rent when this is known.
Cllr Joyce Lusby, housing portfolio holder, said that the increases during the catch-up period would be unlikely to exceed 4.1 per cent.
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Cllr Lusby also said that she was delighted that council tenants would benefit from lower rent increases than originally anticipated.
The council have said they will ensure that there are no problems with benefit payments.
Letters will be sent out to all council residents to advise them about the action and another letter will be send out when the rent increases are finalised, four weeks before they are implemented.
