Council house rent in Newtown, garage rents and plot charges and Careline will increase from 1 April, it has been confirmed.
The rent hike was part of a numbers of proposal to increase rents and charges that were approved by PCC cabinet at their meeting on Tuesday.
According to the report, the 2.7 per-cent increase for the council’s 5,375 houses is required, to fund the service and invest in the housing stock.
Council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris explained the proposals as portfolio holder economic development, housing and regulatory services, Cllr James Evans was unable to present it due to being away on other council business.
Cllr Harris, said: “This is a report that comes before us annually and it’s done with Welsh Government guidance.
“We are proposing a small rent increases, and it’s suggested to be £2.42pence per week for our council houses.
“Also included are increases in the garage rents, we have some 2000 in Powys and I think some of them are not particularly fit for purpose and there is ongoing work on them. Some of them are too small for modern cars.”
“We also have service charges for some of our tenants.”
Portfolio holder for Children’s Social Services and Culture Cllr Rachel Powell, pointed out that the Housing Service, when setting the rent: “taken into account affordability for tenants of the whole cost of living in a property.”
“The council recognises the whole cost of living including rent, services charges and energy costs, which I find reassuring really, “said Cllr Powell.
The full list of increases is:
Average rent in Powys will increase by 2.7% (£2.42 per week) for all 5375 Council owned homes
That service charges charged to tenants are amended from April 2020 to allow the Council to recover the cost of providing these services during 2019-2020
The weekly cost for Careline in 2020-2021 is £1.10 per week
Garage rents in Powys for 2020-2021 are increased by three per-cent plus £1 per week
Garage plot charges increase by £17.50 a year
The weekly occupation charges for Gypsy and Traveller sites will be increased by 2.7 per-cent
All other rental and service charges will increase by 2.7 per-cent.
By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service