As reported in the Evening Telegraph and the Courier, I am concerned at proposals by the City Council's SNP administration to consider a 5% rents hike. The SNP administration – for the second year in a row – is proposing to force council tenants to find increased rent levels that are not acceptable at a time of significant financial challenge for tenants.When the 2010/11 increase was discussed last year, I moved that the increase be restricted to 3% - but the SNP pushed through a 4% inflation-busting increase.
It appears that, again, the SNP is determined to increase council rents by well above inflation and I question the fairness of that at a time of significant financial pressures upon Dundee tenants. There are areas where the Housing Revenue Account could make further savings – and I question the need for a base budget cost increase for relets of over £550 000.
I hope that this year the administration will actually listen to tenants rather than pushing through an unreasonable increase in rents.