Council leaders have backed proposals for a rent hike – saying Stoke-on-Trent will still have some of the cheapest council rents in the country.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to increase the rent paid by its 17,000 tenants by 2.7 per cent from April, the maximum increase allowed under government guidelines.

Cabinet members voted to support the proposal, which will result in the average tenant paying £3.16 more a week. They said that the city council's homes would still be 'very good value' compared to social housing in other parts of the country.

In a league table of 19 similar local authorities, Stoke-on-Trent had the third lowest average rent in 2023/24.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children's services, said: "People are never happy when their rents go up. But as it says in the report, the rents in the city are very good value, compared to other similar authorities. We still charge a lot less, and I think we need to recognise that."

Councillor Alastair Watson, cabinet member for financial sustainability, added: "According to government figures, Stoke-on-Trent council house rents are the third lowest in a league table of 19 comparable authorities."

Government policy states that councils should put up rents by no more than the CPI measure of inflation in September plus one per cent. But the council has to ensure the sustainability of its housing revenue account, which funds council house repairs and maintenance, meaning it typically goes for the maximum rent increase allowed each year.

Cabinet members also confirmed the decision to scrap controversial plans for a new £52-a-year amenity charge for all its tenants. A total of 1,088 tenants responded to a consultation on the proposals, with 60 per cent opposing the new charge.

A final decision on the proposed rent increase will be taken by the full council next Thursday.

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