By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Council housing tenants in Bassetlaw will pay almost £90 extra in the next year after a 7.7 per cent rise was agreed.
Council leaders said the rise was a “difficult decision” driven by higher inflation, and would allow the authority to keep its homes in good condition.
Tenants in affordable renting properties will also be asked to pay an extra 7.7 per cent, adding up to an another £140 over the next financial year.
The extraordinary meeting of Bassetlaw District Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday (January 9) also agreed a five-year programme to invest £117m in their properties.
Councillor Jo White (Lab), the council’s deputy leader, said: “This is never the easiest of meetings as we are directed every year by the government to put up rent.
“The recommended rate is the CPI [Consumer Price Index] plus one per cent. This year, it reflects the huge increase in the cost of living.
“It’s important as an authority to maintain high standards of properties that residents deserve.
“Fourteen years of Conservative government have affected council finances badly, and we’ve had to take this difficult decision.
“Seventy per cent of our tenants are in receipt of housing benefits, which will go up by a higher rate, but we recognise that others will be facing difficult times.
“We do have a support network for tenants who are finding the increase difficult.”
The rise will bring in an extra £2.22m for the council.
Councillor Jonathan Slater (Lab), the cabinet member for housing and estates, said: “Any additional income from increased rents will support future investment both in the Housing Service and the housing stock.
“As a result, service users will benefit investment in their homes, estates and through other service provision.”
Cabinet members also agreed a £27m spend under the Housing Capital programme in the 2024/24 year, and a total of £117m until 2028/29.
£3.8m would be used to adapt the homes of disabled tenants over the five year period.
A report which went before councillors confirmed a project to build 120 new homes on Radford Street in Manton was being reconsidered in light of inflation and the difficult economic situations.
A longer report into the scheme with the available options will go before Cabinet in March.
