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Rent increase of 3% agreed for council homes in Highlands

Highland Council HQ
Highland Council HQ

A rent rise of 3% on council homes is likely to be agreed this week by Highland councillors.

The increase will be applied to all residential rents and service charges and to gypsy/traveller site pitches.

Officers are also recommending that rents for leased property should be increased as stipulated in existing contracts.

In the last five years, Highland Council rents have increased at a much lower rate than nationally or in housing associations operating in the region.

Council rents are the eighth lowest of the 26 local authorities which have housing, and second lowest out of the five main housing associations in Highland.

The average increase in Scotland during the last five years has been more than 3%, while Highland Council’s rent increases have ranged from 0.5% to 1.9%.

Almost half of council tenants replying to consultation about the scale of the rise said the 3% figure was acceptable.

The consultation ran until December 16 last year, and was carried out by post and through the council’s website.

The tenant participation team, supported by area housing teams, also carried out a five-week consultation while travelling around Highland Council area, speaking to tenants in 90 different communities, with face-to-face  and telephone discussions with more than 1,000 tenants.

More than 80% of tenants said their rent was good value for money, and they wanted to see the 3% increase spent on planned maintenance and estate improvements.