A COUNCIL is set to increased social housing rents by 1.5 per cent in line with inflation.

Denbighshire County Council said the change will come into effect on April 5 with an average weekly rent increase of £1.38.

The council said the increase is in line with Welsh Government policy for social housing rents.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, Denbighshire County Council’s cabinet member for finance, performance and strategic assets, said: “The decision was made after careful consideration as we understand the difficult circumstances households have experienced during 2020 and the early part of 2021.

“We had to demonstrate we are using our resources efficiently, that we provide value for money and consider the affordability of our rents before the decision was approved by the council’s cabinet. In a survey, 89 per cent of council tenants said their rent provides value for money, while rents are the lowest on average for social housing landlords in Denbighshire.

“The long-term business plan for how we manage and maintain our £300million worth of housing stock is based on an annual rent increase linked to inflation.

“Denbighshire Housing is investing in our stock for the benefit of our residents and the longer term improvement of our housing stock. Alongside carefully investing the rents from our tenants we maximise opportunities to leverage in grant funding to support our strategic aims.

“The housing budget has been calculated to ensure we can deliver our services, the capital investment programme to maintain the quality standard of our homes and develop our new build programme.”

The council has set a target to create 170 new council homes by 2022 under its Corporate Plan with work underway on four one-bedroom apartments on the site of the former Bodnant School canteen on Caradoc Road in Prestatyn.