HAPPY holidays! Council tenants across the resort are getting ready to enjoy a four week rent holiday this year courtesy of Blackpool Borough Council.

Last December the council wrote to all tenants suggesting the idea of dividing their annual rent by 48 weeks instead of 52.

This makes one week in August, two in December and one in March 'No Rent Weeks'.

And the idea has got a big thumbs up from tenants despite having to pay a bit more in every payment week to enable them to have four weeks rent free.

Blackpool Council's assistant director of landlord services Peter Jefferson said: "The decision follows a very good response from the tenants. Three out of four people who replied thought it was a good idea and of those three-quarters agreed with the timing of the no rent weeks.

"That's a tremendous mandate so we're implementing the scheme from April 1."

The council has specifically timed the rent holiday weeks to coincide with summer holidays, Christmas and Easter when budgets are tight and everyone could do with extra cash.

Mr Jefferson added: "We are pleased to have been able to give our tenants this helping hand when everyone's budgets are stretched. Letters explaining all the workings out and giving the exact dates of the no rent weeks are being delivered now.

"People on Housing Benefit will be unaffected and anyone who doesn't understand the arithmetic can contact us at the office addresses and telephone numbers given in the letters."