Challenge your MP over rent increases (From Gazette)

Challenge your MP over rent increases

1:40pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Letters

Letters, signed by me as portfolio holder for housing at Colchester Council, started dropping on the doormats of council tenants last week following the cabinet’s decision on January 25 to set an average rent increase of just over 8 per cent.

The cabinet comprises councillors from the Lib Dem, Labour and High Woods Independent groups, and the decision was unanimously supported.

The Conservative opposition group did not speak against the decision and it has not been “called in” to be reconsidered.

In fairness, the council has very little say over the rent increase, which is set in line with central Government guidelines and is based on the September 2011 Retail Price Index inflation figure, which was high.

I have great sympathy with those tenants who will struggle to afford such a significant increase and would advise them to complain to their local MP, who should, in my opinion, lobby the Government on this matter.

In the meantime, I shall be contacting those tenants who have contacted me to explain the reasons behind the increase and giving them the contact details of their Member of Parliament.

Tim Young
Portfolio holder for housing & community safety
Leader of the Labour group
Colchester Council