COUNCIL house tenants will see rents rise by nearly four per cent which is the maximum hike that can be imposed without a penalty.

The 3.78 per cent rise equates to an average weekly rise of £1.76, taking the average weekly rent to £48.44.

Individual rents will vary according to a target formula, based on numbers of bedrooms and relative property values.

The average rise is the maximum the council can charge its tenants without losing rent rebate subsidies from the Government.

It will also apply to weekly garage rents, up to £4.15 over 50 weeks.

The increases are among a package of housing revenue proposals approved by the executive committee on Wednesday (Feb 18).

Sheltered support charge increases will vary enormously depending on individual schemes.

At Beech Close and Elms Close, the replacement of site wardens with a mobile service will see support bills plummet by around 50 per cent.

But the weekly charges at other sites will rise, by nearly 12 per cent at Huntley House, and 10.8 per cent at Moorfield.

Service, heating and telephone Carelink charges are also to increase for sheltered tenants.

Certain charges are not paid where tenants receive housing benefits.

Members of the full council will vote upon the proposals at their special budget meeting next Wednesday (Feb 25).