Highland Council Houses Rent Increases To Pay For Improvements

17th January 2009

The Highland Council has identified the need to spend around £88 million over the next six years to bring its stock of Council houses up to Scottish Housing Quality standards by carrying out upgrading work including new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and energy efficient measures.

The Housing and Social Work Committee agreed today (Wednesday) to increase the total it will spend on upgrading houses to £13.212 million in 2009/10.

This includes funding of £1.7 million to be raised, in part, by a rent increase of 4% (Retail Price Index, plus 1%) in the new financial year. This Retail Price Index plus 1% formula has been used for the past eight years. It will mean the average Council house rent increasing from £61.48 per week to £63.93 (over 48 weekly charges). This is an average increase of £2.46 per week.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, chairman of the Housing and Social Work Committee, said: "We would all like to set a lower rent but we need to strike a balance here and I think we have achieved this with the 4% increase. We have identified that £88 million over the next six years is needed to bring our houses up to nationally agreed standards and this increase can help us achieve our target."