Powys council house rents set to rise

Council house tenants in Powys could see their rents increase by 5.2 per cent from April. The proposal price goes before Powys County Council's ruling board on Tuesday.

The report proposes that the council increase the average rent from £63.95 to £67.26.

The council said it had set the proposed increase in line with guidelines from the Welsh Assembly and the extra income would help the authority to maintain its current housing standards and to make improvements.

The increase would still be lower than the amount suggested in guidelines issued by the Welsh Assembly, which was 6.6 per cent.

The report's author, Councillor Graham Brown, who is responsible for housing and public protection, said: "It is recommended that an increase in the rent of 5.2 per cent, in order to maintain average rents at the Welsh Assembly's guideline for Powys, should be confirmed for 2011/12.

"This will enable the council to maintain services and secure more investment to meet Welsh Housing Quality Standard whilst keeping borrowing at a minimum."

But he said the rents on the council's garages would not be increasing and would remain at the current level of £5.04 per week.

If councillors agree to the increase, it will be introduced from April 4.

But Councillor Russell George, ward member for Newtown Central, said tenants would struggle to find the extra money.

He said: "I can't understand why the Assembly is recommending such a large increase at the very time people are struggling financially."

Emrys Morris, a resident from Welshpool, said many people would struggle to find the extra money to pay the rent.