COUNCIL house rents in the Dudley borough are set to rise.

Rent for social homes in the borough is set to rise by 2.7% from April 2020 according to local authority budget proposals, which will see the average weekly rent increase from £76.47 to £78.53.

The increase comes after the national government lifted the one percent reduction to social landlords’ rents.

Council chiefs say the rise will help fund the maintenance of and investment in council homes.

Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing, communities and residents’ welfare, said: "This budget outlines our commitment to tenants that we will continue to invest in their homes and the services which help to manage and maintain them.

"The budget also includes, for the first time in five years, a small rent increase, this additional income for the authority will allow us to invest more in services for tenants, while keeping rents lower than they were when we first began the rent decrease."

The increase is part of a proposed housing budget that will be put to councillors next week, where they will be asked to approve the £85million housing budget for the new financial year and the £173 million capital investment programme over the next four years.

The proposed budget for 2020/21 includes £19.5million for housing management to cover day-to-day duties such as income collection, tenancy enforcement, and support for vulnerable tenants.

£23.7million is set to be spent on responsive repairs and statutory duties such as servicing of gas appliances, electrical inspections and lift servicing.

The report to cabinet also proposes investment of £173million over the next four years to improve council homes, including the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms, new central heating, insulation and measures help to alleviate fuel poverty.

Councillors will be asked to approve the housing budget at a full council meeting on February 12.