Council flat residents faced with 253% increase in heating costs

Some residents in a council flat will be unable to pay the dramatic increase in heating and rent cost they face this week.

Residents of Herne Hill House in Railton Road, received a letter on February 28, informing them of a 43 per cent rise in rent and heating costs.

The letter explained their weekly charge would increase from £133.09 to £190.48 from today. 

Leslie Hayden, 52, has lived in Herne Hill House for 13 years.

Mr Hayden suffers from a number of ailments including chronic pain, depression and anxiety.

After his rent is paid Mr Hayden is left with £180 for the month, this goes towards his WiFi, phone bill and TV contract leaving £30 a month for food and travel to his appointments.

Mr Hayden received the letter from Lambeth council regarding the rise in rent.

He said: “How is this possible, that without warning Lambeth is allowed to create such an outlandish, unplayable, unfair situation for hundreds of the lowest paid British citizens? 

“This will cause mass evictions.” 

The increase in rent includes heating and hot water costs which have skyrocketed by 253 per cent.

The council have explained that the increase is mainly due to increased fuel prices which have pushed up the charges for heating and hot water. 

These weekly costs have risen from £7.74 to £27.30 for heating and £5.64 to £19.91 for hot water. 

Herne Hill House has a communal heating system so all residents have to pay the same charges.

Mr Hayden said: “We have not been given a choice, I would prefer my own gas but they have put in electric boilers for communal heating.

“This is automatic debt forced by way of over charging.

“The care and concern is long gone only left with greed and manipulation of the poorer less able.”

A spokesman from Lambeth council said: “We appreciate the very real challenges that rising costs are having on households at this time, but unfortunately these charges are set based on the market costs to provide gas and electricity that are affecting councils across the country.

“The council has long term gas and electricity contracts where the rates are set by energy providers. These contracts mean that while Lambeth council tenants did not see a rise in communal gas and electricity prices this financial year, there will be significant increases in the next 12 months.

“These costs are outside the council’s control and while we are providing financial support to tenants,  these rising heating and hot water costs are unavoidable.”

Pictured top: Herne Hill House (Picture: Google Street View)