Council home rents to rise by nearly 5%

People living in council-owned homes in Barnsley will see their rent rise by just under 5% from April after the increase was voted through by councillors.

The 4.8% rise would affect council house rents, service charges, non-dwelling rents such as garages and district heating charges, a full meeting of Barnsley Council heard.

The average weekly rent would increase from £93.35 to £97.83, a difference of £4.48, councillors were told.

A report examined by councillors said the increase was in line with the government's rent policy for social housing, which allowed annual increases of inflation plus 1%.

The increase was required to balance the Housing Revenue Account and to allow the council to invest in council homes, the report to councillors said.

Housing budgets were under growing pressure from higher construction and repair costs, an ageing housing stock and tighter national safety and quality regulations, council officers said.

According to the Local Democracy reporting Service, Councillor Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for core services, told the meeting on Wednesday that the authority had to make "difficult decisions" to ensure tenants could live in warm, safe and well-maintained homes.

However, Independent councillor Jake Lodge said he could not support the rise.

"Every empty home makes it harder to justify asking existing tenants to pay more, and so we're able to demonstrate real, sustained improvement in bringing properties back into use quickly," Lodge said.

"I don't believe a rent rise is fair or defensible," he added.

Meanwhile, Councillor Hannah Kitching, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, called for a "fundamental overhaul" of council housing in the borough.

Sir Steve Houghton, leader of the council, agreed that the system needed a "revamp", but said that in the meantime the proposed rent increase was needed.

"If we did not agree with the proposals here today, repairs would get worse," he warned.

"So, not increasing the rent simply means the problems you've highlighted will continue to deteriorate."

As well as giving the go-ahead to the rise, councillors also approved a £55.2m housing investment programme for 2026-27.

That included £28.8m of capital spending on major works such as kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems, and £26.4m for repairs and maintenance.

An additional £2.1m was approved for building safety compliance, environmental estate improvements and floor replacement works at Princess Street.

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