Council backs change in law to raise rent for wealthier tenants (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Council backs change in law to raise rent for wealthier tenants

3:00pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in News

Wandsworth Council is backing a change in the law that would raise rents for wealthier council tenants.

The Government has asked local authorities for their views on a new housing consultation paper entitled 'High income social tenants pay to stay'.

In its response to the consultation, the council stated: "Social housing is a precious resource that in large part should provide housing for low income households who are unable to meet their housing requirements through buying or renting market housing."

The aim of the paper is to make housing rents fairer and more equitable, by asking higher-earning council and housing association tenants to pay a full market rent for the property, rather than benefit from the same low cost rents offered to families on lower incomes.

Wandsworth have suggested that an appropriate threshold could be for tenants whose income exceeds £60,000 a year.

The changes would not require higher income tenants to leave the property - only that they would need to pay a more appropriate rent.

Rents on council and housing association properties across the country are typically 60 per cent lower than an equivalent property rented from a private landlord.

Housing spokesman, Councillor Paul Ellis, said "There have been well documented and high profile abuses of the system and this reform would allow local authorities to bring an end to these abuses."