A potential increase in social rent in Barrow has been approved by the borough council’s housing management forum.
The proposed 3.1 per cent rise for the 2022/23 financial year has come amid challenges such as inflation and the move to a unitary system of governance in Cumbria. Garage rates would also rise by the same percentage.
After receiving approval from the housing management forum, the potential increases are to be presented to a full council meeting on February 24.
In a report produced ahead of Thursday’s forum meeting, Jan Sharp, deputy director of people and place at the council, said the increase had been suggested for a number of reasons.
She said the continued sale of council properties to council tenants through the Right to Buy scheme as well as general cost increases would ‘remain a challenge’.
“Increased costs associated with the economy recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic will also bring challenges to the housing revenue account’s income over the coming financial year,” she said.
“Local government reform and the formation of the new unitary authority will likely have implications on the housing revenue account moving forward as well, which needs to be considered.”
