Caithness councillor hits back over two per cent rent rise for Highland Council tenants
Highland Council’s housing and property committee has agreed to raise rents by two per cent for the second year running despite some speaking out against the move.
According to the council, after “an extensive consultation” the “preferred option of tenants” is a two per cent increase in council house rent for 2021 and 2022 – a rise of £1.55 per week, from £77.70 to £79.25.
The price will come into effect from April and is aimed at allowing the current levels of housing service and investment to continue into the next financial year, though there will be no increase for Sheltered Housing Warden services.
But this comes on top of a three per cent hike last year, meaning tenants have seen their rents rise almost £200 in the last two years amid mounting arrears and record benefit claims.
Currently the council has the seventh lowest average council house rent out of the 26 Scottish local authorities that retain housing stock and the lowest of the five main housing associations operating in the council area.
But councillor Donnie Mackay (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) objected strongly, saying: “I have been a councillor for 18 years and every year council rents have gone up. I know it's only £1.55 but there are people here in poverty, on food parcels.
“But the wages don't go up, and yet we put up the rents and in the next two months we’ll put up the council tax. I feel for people out there and I'm facing them everyday in life.
“Since I have become a councillor, rent arrears have been going up and up and up, we are not collecting it. If that rent arrears was all taken would we need to put up rents? I don’t think so.”
The chairman of the housing and property committee, Councillor Ben Thompson, said: “This year we are very aware of the financial challenges many of our tenants are facing due to the impact of the pandemic.
“The rent changes agreed today will allow us to continue current levels of housing management service and fund significant ongoing investment and upgrades to our 14,000 council houses.
“Our housing staff will continue to engage closely with tenants and make sure anyone that needs financial help gets the support they need.”