Housing Executive rents increase announced
31/01/2012
Housing Executive tenants in Tyrone and Mid Ulster are facing a rise in rents. This increase will bring the average Housing Executive rent to £58.76 a week, excluding rates, and will be around £19.73 a week less than the average rent for similar local authority accommodation in England where an eight per cent increase will be applied. The Housing Executive's stock is regarded as the best maintained social housing in the UK, and rental income generated needs to be sufficient to maintain accommodation at the standard expected investment in the stock. Almost 80 per cent of Housing Executive tenants will not have to pay this additional sum as they are on housing benefit. The Minister has also asked Housing Associations to impose lower rent increases to that agreed for NIHE to bring more conformity to social housing rent levels. The average weekly rent for a housing association tenant in Northern Ireland is £69.32. Last month the Courier revealed how Housing Executive tenants in Tyrone and Mid Ulster were struggling with rent arrears of almost £500,000 in the areas of Dungannon, Cookstown, Fermanagh and Omagh. Struggling tenants were being asked to seek help before their rent arrears spiralled. Source: Tyrone Courier |