West Dunbartonshire Council has agreed to increase tenants’ rent by 4.5 per cent in order to keep up with general inflation and fund essential on-going investment in its housing.
The increase, which applies from 2 April 2012, will see the average weekly rent payable over 47 weeks go up by £2.73.
The decision takes account of the fact general inflation has been in excess of 4 per cent over the past year, and that the Council has to invest significant sums in its housing to bring it up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.
The Council will spend over £25 million on housing improvements in 2012/13, which will include overcladding of several high rise properties, lift replacements in some medium and high rise blocks, replacement of central heating systems, installation of door entry systems and new roofs for many low rise properties, amongst many other projects.
West Dunbartonshire also currently has the eleventh lowest weekly rent charges amongst Scotland’s 28 Housing authorities.
Councillor William Hendrie, Convener for Housing, said: “While we realise how tight household budgets are at the moment and understand that any rent increase is likely to be unpopular with tenants, the position is that the Council simply must bring our housing stock up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015. We cannot do that without increasing rents. The Council has done everything possible to make sure the proposed increase is as low as we can get it, while still maintaining the services our tenants want.”
Any tenant who is concerned about their financial position or their ability to pay their rent should contact their local housing office as soon as possible so that staff can investigate what help is available to them. The contact details are as follows:
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Clydebank – 01389 738555
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Dumbarton/Alexandria – 01389 737163
