Fife Council's community convener expresses understanding that any rent rise is difficult

The community convener of Fife Council says she understands that the idea of any rise in rents is tough amid the cost of living crisis.

A one-year rent increase of 2.5% for council houses is coming into effect from April, with council tax also rising for 2022/23 after the move was approved by councillors earlier this week.

But the local authority says that it's the equivalent of nearly £2 a week to the average rent cost and the same rise will apply to service charges, garages, lock-ups and temporary accommodation.

According to Judy Hamilton, the council has carefully considered the impact of rising costs of living, both on households across Fife and on the Housing Service’s ability to provide safe and warm homes across the Kingdom.

She insists that the rise is the lowest that is affordable without cutting services.

Councillor Hamilton said: "We can control our own income from housing and we always talk and listen to our tenants before taking decisions.

"Of course, the idea of any increase is challenging, especially now.

"However, we held a series of meetings with tenants and tenant groups and consulted over 30,000 tenants as part of our consultation on rent levels.

"A 2.5% increase was the lowest we can afford without reducing services and 62% of tenants who responded, supported this proposal.

"Our average weekly rent will be £78.49, which is well below the Fife Living Rent threshold of £105.53 for a single person.

"This is a very important consideration for me. We have introduced a Fife Living Rent and been keen to ensure our rents must meet this affordability test.

"This year, we are setting aside £2m, to support tenants who are struggling with rent payments, through going on to Universal Credit and setting up crucial funds to support tenants struggling to pay energy bills.

"This year, for the first time, tenants have said their top priority for investment is energy efficiency in their homes.

"Our tenants should not have to choose between heating and eating and we are doing everything that we can to ensure that support is available and accessible.

"In response to what our tenants are telling us, we have committed to energy innovation works in tenants’ homes, to meet the Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing (EESSH2) requirements and tackle fuel poverty.

"In 2022-23 we’ll spend over £55m on these housing improvements, as well as continuing with our ambitious House-building programme.

"There is no doubt in my mind that good quality, warm, safe housing is the bedrock of peoples’ lives and of communities.

"In Fife we’re proud to have approved plans to invest over £312m in housing over the next three years.

"It’s more than ever before, and it’s more than anyone else.

"I thank all our tenants for the way they engage with us and support the council’s Housing Service."