Rent for Powys County Council (PCC) housing tenants will rise by £2.42 a week from April 1.

The rent hike was part of a numbers of proposal to increase rents and charges that were approved by PCC cabinet at their meeting on Tuesday, February 11.

According to the report, the 2.7 per cent increase for the council’s 5,375 houses is required, to fund the service and invest in the housing stock.

Council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris (Independent – Llangynidr) explained the proposals as portfolio holder economic development, housing and regulatory services, Cllr James Evans (Conservative – Gwernyfed) was unable to present it due to being away on other council business.

Cllr Harris, said: “This is a report that comes before us annually and it’s done with Welsh Government guidance. “We are proposing a small rent increases, and it’s suggested to be £2.42 per week for our council houses.

“Also included are increases in the garage rents, we have some 2,000 in Powys and I think some of them are not particularly fit for purpose and there is ongoing work on them.

“Some of them are too small for modern cars. We also have service charges for some of our tenants.”

Portfolio holder for Children’s Social Services and Culture Cllr Rachel Powell (Independent – Beguildy), pointed out that the Housing Service, when setting the rent, had “taken into account affordability for tenants of the whole cost of living in a property”.

“The council recognises the whole cost of living including rent, services charges and energy costs, which I find reassuring really”, Cllr Powell said.

The increases will see average rent in Powys increase by 2.7 per cent (£2.42 per week) for all 5,375 Council owned homes.

Service charges which are charged to tenants will be amended from April 2020. This will allow the Council to recover the cost of providing these services during 2019-2020.

The weekly cost for Careline in 2020-2021 will be £1.10 per week.

Garage rents in Powys for 2020-2021 are also to be increased by three per cent plus £1 per week.