Average council house rent increase pegged at 2%

The increase in the average weekly rent charged by The Highland Council to its 13,500 council house tenants is being contained to 2%. The rent will rise from £68.99 to £70.37, an increase of £1.38.

A 2% increase will also be applied to hostel rents, gypsy/traveller site pitches, garage and garage sites as well as caretaking and CCTV services.

In 2014-15, the Council will spend £15.577 million on repairs and maintenance and also plans to invest £17.5 million in improvements to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard for existing houses and £23 million to build new Council houses.