Hard-hit council tenants facing seven per cent rise in rent payments
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
Croydon council tenants are set to be hit with a seven per cent rent increase next year, which will see the average monthly cost of a two-bedroom property rise by more than £30-a-month.
The change is expected to come into force in April 2023, and the proposed hike will see the weekly rent on an average two-bed rise £8 a week, from £114 to £122. The same seven per cent increase will also be applied to service charges.
The changes were discussed during Croydon council’s tenant and leaseholder panel meeting on Tuesday night.
One resident said: “In my long-term experience as a tenant, this is the largest yearly increase that I know of.
“What I am really concerned about is the 32 per cent of tenants that don’t qualify for any benefits.
“This is going to cause increased problems for tenants, increased arrears and increased stress for many tenants, but particularly those in the public sector that are lucky if they are going to get a four per cent wage increase. To me this seven per cent is outrageous.”
Director of housing, Susmita Sen, said the increase will be capped at seven per cent and will be the limit of the price hike.
She said: “We are extremely mindful of the cost-of-living crisis and those pressures are feeding through into our own costs.
“The utilities, the fuel bills have gone sky-high. We are not spending enough on improving or maintaining our homes.
“When we look at the seven per cent figure, it will be to ensure we invest in the maintenance of those homes.”
Ms Sen added that the council would be reaching out to those that don’t receive any benefits to see what support they could be eligible for to help with the rising cost.
The rent increase is expected to be approved by Croydon’s executive mayor at a cabinet meeting on January 25, and will set rents and service charges for the 2023-24 financial year.
Pictured top: Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon council offices, Fell Road (Picture: Tara O’Connor)
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We have just received our Heating and Hot Water Service Charge Increases for April 2023 from Lambeth Council.
Hot water and heating are rising by 353% which is an additional £46.20 per week
Meaning that our rent 10.1% increase (including service charges) goes up by a whopping 37%
That’s despite us not having regular heating and hot water services since September last year!