Alloa Resident Angered By 18 Percent Rent Increase From Council

The council decided to raise tenant base fees by 10 percent. This happened on Thursday, January 30th, during a full meeting. Elected officials also approved a new rental structure. Some tenants are unhappy, though. They found their monthly charges jumped by 18 percent.

One resident in Alloa got a letter about it. Their rent for a three-bedroom place will rise in March, going from £379.44 to £449.24. This renter didn’t know about the new rental structure. They got a letter regarding a rent increase this morning. They consulted on a 10 percent rise, but not the new structure.

They felt the council kept it quiet, with it being an extra £69 each month. The council held a survey about a potential rent increase. Choices were 9.5, 10, or 10.5 percent. Ten percent won, so councillors voted for that last month. Residents also gave feedback on the rent structure itself.

The council used this to make changes. The new system uses property type, age, and energy efficiency. These determine rent. Letters about this had info on universal credit. The resident said they don’t qualify for such aid. They must find the extra money themselves.

They said this increase cuts into their disposable income. They can now pay bills, but nothing else. A council tax hike would make it worse too. The council hired Arneil Johnston in June 2024. They reviewed the current rent and service charges.

The goal was a fairer system, meeting both customer and business needs. The review found the old system very flat. There was little difference between large and small places. The revised system makes bigger differences now by property size. The average weekly rent is the same.

A council spokesperson said tenants wanted a review since 2012. Eighty-one percent wanted the system rebalanced. This led councillors to agree last year. They sought feedback on how to structure rent. Property size and age were considered.

In-person sessions followed in October 2024. This let them further discuss and refine the analysis. The results shaped the new rent structure for everyone. Rent uses the new structure and the 10 percent rise.

The council also added that about 72 percent will pay less each week. All elected officials supported the structure. Larger council properties were a third cheaper than local rates. Smaller ones were 15 percent higher than the Scottish average. Fixing this imbalance drove change.

The changes reflect the feedback from the survey. The new structure makes rent affordable.