Council Housing Rent Increases Pegged to 1%

6.00.00pm GMT Sat 20th Dec 2003

MK's 14000 are set to benefit from a less than inflation rent rise next year.

Following consultation with the Tenant's Forum the L.D. Council will recommend that the rent rise is 1% and that it is PEGGED to 1% for the next few years.

Shared owners rents will be FROZEN this year.

In the past year the Lib Dem council has radically improved the council's housing finances through a combination of good management and strong financial discipline.

This allows the Council to reward its tenants with below inflation rise AND an improvement in services. Tenants will benefit from a free-phone number which they will be able to use to contact the Council and a "gold card" which will be awarded to tenants who pay their rent on time and look after their properties and which will entitle them to certain privileges.

Councillor Irene Henderson said "We knew when we took over 18 months ago that sorting out Labour's housing mess was going to be a challenge. The rent rise last year was a direct result of their poor management this is really the first clear year for us and we are delighted that tenants can now see the benefits of the reforms that we have introduced and the hard work of the staff."