Rent Increase Proposal

Council house tenants in Dundee have backed the lowest proposed increase of the three options presented to them in the annual rent consultation. 

After a two-month exercise, over 68% of the 1929 tenants who responded opted for an 8% rise, which is equal to an average increase of £7.28 per week. 

A report to the council’s City Governance committee asks councillors to approve the change, which would come into effect from April 6 this year. 

Committee convener Cllr Mark Flynn said: “While we understand that many of our tenants face challenging financial circumstances, the suggested level of change will allow us to deliver a huge amount of vital work on our housing stock for their benefit.  

“This can be seen in the way that last year’s rent increase has allowed us to carry out nearly 100 roof replacements. Around 200 properties are also receiving full new window replacements, while almost 30 properties are getting new kitchens and bathrooms installed.  

“Nearly 50,000 repairs are being carried out this financial year. Ongoing work will see the completion of 333 adaptations, the renewal of 3 operational lifts within the city’s multi storeys and investment over £4 million in planned maintenance.  

“Funding raised through last year’s rent increase is also enabling us to turn around previously void properties, with 1,300 becoming available again.  

“Meanwhile, major capital projects are getting underway, including the £8.5 million new flats development at Blackness as well as £10m of work to tackle fuel poverty in council houses in the Linlathen area.  

“However, we are acutely aware of the strain caused by cost-of-living crisis and that is why our advice services are working hard to assist people through Welfare Rights support and outreach clinics across the city.   

“This new rent proposal for 20206-27 will also see the £500,000 Hardship Fund continued into the next financial year to directly help tenants who are impacted by these ongoing pressures. Over 400 have been supported this current year alone.”  

Cllr Kevin Cordell, convener of the council’s Neighbourhood, Housing and Communities committee added: "A good supply of warm, easy to heat homes is important to help us deliver strong communities where people feel empowered, safe and proud to live. 

“That does not come without significant investment. When the rent figures were being worked out, costs were continuing to rise. We are extremely conscious of striking a difficult balance, not just for the many hard-pressed Dundonians, but also for increasingly stretched council financial resources.” 

Registered Tenants Organisations (RTOs) and Dundee Federation of Tenants Association (DFTA) were also consulted as part of the process.  

The City Governance committee meets on Monday January 19.