Hull MP calls on Council to slash rents now

Hull North MP Diana Johnson today called on Hull City Council to take up the Government's offer of help to cut rent hikes for hard-pressed council tenants.

On 6 March the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett MP, announced that the Government was inviting local authorities to apply for extra cash to halve average guideline rent increases from 6.2 per cent to 3.1 per cent.

The changes to the guideline rent increase means that tenants should see a marked drop in their proposed average rent increase for the coming year but only if this help is claimed by their local authority before the 24 April deadline.

Hull's Opposition Labour councillors will also be calling on Hull City Council to take up the extra help for council tenants at a special Council meeting on Friday 3 April.

Diana Johnson MP said: "This offer of Government help would be worth a lot of money over a year for many hard-pressed Hull tenants who have to pay their own rent - but it's up to Hull City Council to claim this extra help.

"There can be no legitimate reason for Hull not to join many other councils in passing on this real help to council tenants in these tough times.

"Hull City Council recently received a letter setting out what their new revised guideline rent will be. No time must be wasted in claiming this help before the deadline. Otherwise my constituents would want to know why Hull is obstructing the much lower rent rise that tenants should be getting.

"The Labour Government has listened to what councils and their tenants have said about the planned rent increases, and I am determined to help Hull tenants get a fair and affordable deal. I have written to the Lib Dem Leader of Hull City Council urging him to cut through the red tape and make sure that Hull tenants get this help - as others are around the country."

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett MP said: "We are determined to do all that we can to help local people in these difficult times.

"This is why I announced this extra help on 6 March. As I set out, there is no reason why the revised increases cannot be introduced straight away, so I would urge Hull to ensure that there is no delay in taking up the offer."