THURROCK council house rents are set to rise by 1.5 per cent, it was reported to members of the borough council's housing committee this evening.

Members acknowledged the difficult circumstances that the council was going through because of the pressures of Covid-19 which had meant that consultation with residents who might be affected was 'not ideal'.

The council has residential 9,657 properties which are set to be subject to increases.

Rents of garages will be up by a slightly bigger margin.

The current weekly charges for garage rents are £10.50 per week for council tenants and £15.00 per week for non-Council tenants.

It is recommended that these charges are increased by two per cent in order to cover inflationary cost pressures which would be a proposed charge for 2021/22 of £10.70 for a Council tenant, and £15.30 per week for a non-Council tenant in 2020/21.

The full report to the committee, which was noted, can be read here.