
| Thursday 6th October 2005 |
2/2005 |
Council house rents in Wigan are to rise by an average of £2.18 a week from April, in line with government guidelines.
The 4.4 per cent increase, agreed at last night’s full council meeting, brings the average weekly rent for a council home in the borough to £51.85
Demand for council accommodation remains at a very high level as massive investment in the housing stock continues to improve the standard of council housing in the borough.
Wigan & Leigh Housing, the company that manages the council’s 24,000 properties, is in the middle of a massive £250m improvement programme that is transforming council housing.
Wigan Council Cabinet Member for Community Protection, Keith Cunliffe, said:
“The rent increase is in line with the government’s guidelines, which effectively dictate rent levels. Rents continue to represent excellent value for money, particularly in view of the improvement programme, which is delivering better homes and more attractive estates right across the borough. The programme is scheduled to finish in 2008, two years ahead of the 2010 deadline.”
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