North Ayrshire tenants face a rent hike of £4.99 per week from April, the council has confirmed.
At a full meeting of North Ayrshire Council last week, councillors agreed to the rise, which was the lowest of the three options on which tenants were consulted.
It will ensure continued investment in the council’s housing stock, with a total planned revenue expenditure of almost £58 million next year.
The £172 million capital programme will further support the delivery of 1,625 new homes by 2028, alongside major improvements to existing homes including covering roofing, Solar PV installation, insulated rendering, rewiring, new kitchens, heating upgrades, new bathrooms and window replacement.
Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “The cost-of-living crisis continues to be at the forefront of our minds in all the decisions we make. Setting rent levels for next year is no different.
“We consulted heavily with our tenants on the proposed rent levels, and I’m delighted to see we had our highest-ever response with more than 1,100 tenants submitting their views.
“It’s worth noting that around 25 per cent of respondents indicated a preference for a higher rent increase. I think that’s a recognition of the valuable level of service our Housing team provides and shows they want to ensure our housing stock is protected for future generations.
“It’s also worth noting that North Ayrshire has the lowest average rent level of all North Ayrshire social landlords and continues to be below the Scottish average.”
The new rate will be applied from April 1, 2023.
Households with lower incomes are encouraged to apply for support with housing costs through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit or contact North Ayrshire Council’s Welfare Reform Advice Team, which can provide vital advice and support to access the benefits to which tenants are entitled.
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