COUNCIL tenants will have to fork out an extra week's rent next financial year, after plans were given the nod by councillors last week.

At the full Clackmannanshire Council meeting on Thursday, February 9, elected representatives were asked to note a two per cent increase on rents across all residential properties, lockups and garage sites.

There will also be a two per cent increase on all housing-related service charges for 2017/18.

Calculated on a 48-week basis, the average property which is now let for £75.84 over seven days will cost £1.52 extra.

Over the course of the full year, this increase would amount to £72.96, about a full week's rent.

According to council documents, 400 tenants responded to a consultation on the proposed new rent levels. Including all its houses and flats, the council has a housing stock of 4,968 properties.

Of those who responded, 70 per cent agreed the sums paid for accommodation represent good value for money. However, only 65 per cent agreed the proposed new rent is affordable.

At the same time, the local authority is planning to spend £9.9million on improvements, ensuring the council complies with the Scottish Housing Quality Standards as well as the requirements of the new Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

A major investment is proposed in the external fabric of the properties, focusing on roofs and render with a proposed budget of £2.627m.

A further £1.8m is proposed to be invested to exchange windows, while £1.365m is planned to be set aside for a kitchen replacement programme.

Smaller sums would also be allocated for electrical safety checks, to upgrade fencing, gates, paths, entrance door and communal areas.

To achieve all this, it is proposed the council borrows £4.837million, which sits below the £35m ceiling set out in the five-year business plan in 2013.

June Anderson, chair of Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation (CTRF) which works to represent the views of locals in social housing, said: “CTRF met with council officials and considered whether the services being provided are in line with the business plan we agreed for the period 2013/18.

“CTRF is satisfied that Clackmannanshire Council Housing Service is delivering tenant priorities in line with national standards, in particular the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the Scottish Social Housing Charter.

“CTRF supports the proposed rent increase of two per cent for 2017/18.

“The increase has been set at retail price index level, and is in line with the agreed business plan projections.

“CTRF believe that this increase will allow the council to continue to improve services and its housing stock, to further benefit the tenants.”