A bid to cut a Highland Council rent increase fails. Fears of tenant hardship were dismissed by the administration.
Alex Graham asked for a special meeting. He wanted to keep the increase at six percent. The council thought the impact would be small. Other effects were seen as good or neutral.
Loan payments will cost £32.5 million next year. This is 43 percent of the housing budget. Repairs will cost less. They will cost £23.2 million, or 31 percent.
Some thought the rent rise too high. It might hurt renters. Renters may not see improvements. Most money might go to debt.
Others said the rise helps housing. It enables better homes plus manages debt. Graham spoke against the rent hike. He said rents rise a lot quickly. Rents could rise 20 percent in three years. He feels that increase is too much. Many tenants’ income does not rise enough.
He disagreed with blaming Westminster. Most debt came recently, he argued. Glynis Campbell-Sinclair disagreed with Graham. She said Highland rents are quite low now.
Campbell-Sinclair noted many tenants get help. 22 percent get housing benefit. 39 percent get Universal Credit. So, 61 percent get aid for their rent. She hopes to balance tenant impact with housing. They aim to improve homes.