Freeze Council rents to tackle cost of the living crisis says Westminster Labour

Many Westminster residents are struggling with rising bills. People on low or fixed incomes are being hit particularly hard. While the Conservative government is mired in scandal over lockdown parties rather than addressing the problem, Boris Johnson’s flagship Conservative Council is quietly planning to make things even harder for low-income families in Westminster by signing off an inflation-busting rise in Council rents.

Westminster Councillors have been told that the upcoming Council budget in March will include a CPI+1 (Consumer Price Index inflation plus 1%) rise in rents for council flats, shops, and other commercial properties owned by Westminster’s Housing Department. That’s the maximum rise local authorities are allowed to impose.

Now is no time for a rent rise.

So not only is Westminster Labour calling on the council to freeze Council Tax, but we believe it is essential this year that Westminster Council freeze Council rents.

Westminster Labour Group Leader Cllr Adam Hug, said:

“Boris Johnson’s Conservatives here in Westminster have been wasting your money on extravagant failures like the Marble Arch Mound and taking people for fools. They have become so arrogant and out-of-touch that they are raising Council rents by more than inflation even when so many families are struggling with rising bills.”

Cllr Liza Begum, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing, said:

“At a time when we find ourselves going through a cost of living crisis, raising Council rents would be devastating to some of the most vulnerable in our community. People are finding it difficult to make ends meet and keep up with bills; now is the time to support residents, not burden them with higher Council rent.