7% on Council Rents a Rise Too Far
At the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Budget Meeting on 22 February 2023, the Liberal Democrat group of Tim Prater, Gary Fuller and Peter Gane refused to back the Housing Revenue budget that increased rents on Council homes by 7%, an average of £6.25 per week, from 3 April 2023.
Sadly, the proposals were passed.
At the Cabinet meeting that discussed the proposals earlier in the day, Tim Prater commented:
“The proposed increase of 7% in line with Government guidelines, equates to an increase of £6.25 per week or £325.00 per annum.
“Well, its not in line with Government guidelines. Its absolutely at the top of the Government cap.
“We protect all households with a Council Tax rise capped at 3%. However we seek to justify to ourselves a rise in rent - a much larger percentage of household income - of 7% for our tenants and some of those most in need in our district?
“A year ago, 5 years ago, a decade ago we wouldn't have conceived it possible to consider a 7% rent rise. We shouldn't be using inflation - which causes pain every other bill faced - to allow us to consider it now.”
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