COUNCILLORS have agreed a rent increase of 4.9% for council house tenants in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area from April 2018 to help fund the housing revenue account.
This will support the council’s affordable housing programme and investment in warmer, drier, healthier homes.
Housing and Communities Convener, Cllr Judy Hamilton, said: “This rent increase is part of a robust and positive budget supported by tenants.
“The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) gives us the opportunity to control our own income and use it for the benefit of tenants. We continually talk and listen to tenants, at meetings and events around Fife, to determine priorities and how best to protect our assets.
“We invest 76% of this budget back into housing – still the highest rate in Scotland. We’re progressing a £29m improvement and replacement programme and all our housing stock, including work to meet a new energy efficiency standard by 2019.
“Tackling fuel poverty is at the heart of our ambition to reduce inequalities. So we’re also investing £12.8m over 3 years in heating, windows and doors, over and above the annual replacement programme.”
Rents on council lock-ups will be frozen for another year pending a Fife-wide review and improvement plan.
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