Published: Wednesday, 27th May, 2009 4:44pm

Anger over council's 25 per cent rent hike

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COUNCIL tenants in Renfrewshire are up in arms over news of a massive 25 per cent rent increase.

The local authority announced the move last week, which will see families stumping up an extra £14 pounds a week over the next five years.

Labour MSP Wendy Alexander blasted: 'These rises in rent are simply disgraceful.

'Families currently paying £58 can expect to pay £72 in the future.

'These new rent increases mean tough times ahead for tenants in Renfrewshire.

'I urge all tenants to write to the councillors who voted for these plans to complain.'

Council tenant Amanda McDowell, from Newmains, Renfrew (pictured inset) said: 'It"s so hard for everyone just now.

'I"m a single parent so any increase will directly affect me.'

Mum-of-two, Julie-Anne Dickson (pictured above) from Erskine added: 'It"s a shame for council tenants because it"s such a difficult time money-wise.'

Renfrewshire Council decided last Thursday to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015, a move which its top housing boss has called "essential".

SNP Councillor Brian Lawson said: 'We have put together a £149 million plan to solve the problems which Labour created.

'A disgraceful 96 per cent of Renfrewshire Council houses are below the acceptable standard.

'Under the previous Labour administration tenants faced a 23 per cent rent increase over five years, including a nine percent increase in one year - with nothing like the level of investment in their homes they can now look forward to.

'This year we have fitted a slightly lower number of kitchens and bathrooms, but the overall budget has increased because we have tripled the number of new central heating systems as a direct result of requests from our tenants.

'Stopping this essential investment would leave many of our 13,000 tenants in misery and fuel poverty with inefficient heating systems, without modern kitchens and bathrooms, and with obsolete electrical wiring in their homes.

'Strangely enough at today"s Council meeting, the Labour group had no alternative plans to put forward.'