It’s good news on rent front

A Government decision to slash council house rent rises by half will put more money in the pockets of Oldham’s tenants.

Welcoming the move, Councillor John McCann said it would help the “average Joe in the street” and Councillor David Hibbert said it was “excellent news”.

This year’s average rent rise will now stand at 3 per cent, instead of the 6 per cent originally agreed, but council leader Howard Sykes warned it was only a temporary measure, and at some stage tenants would have to face a catch-up.

He also criticised the late announcement, which, had it been made four weeks earlier, would have saved the council the £13,000 it cost it to rebill tenants who had already been sent bills for a 6 per cent rent rise payable from this month.

Average rents in Oldham for 2009/10 will be £60.71, bringing a saving of £1.85 on the original 6 per cent increase, although it could be June or July before tenants see the reduction.