18 February 2000
HOUSING EXECUTIVE RENTS INCREASE
The Department for Social Development today announced that Housing Executive rents would increase by 4.5% from 1st April 2000.
Giving details a spokesman said: "In line with local authority rent increases in England, Housing Executive rents will increase by an average of £1.69 per week from 1st April, bringing average weekly rents to £39.21. This is still £6.58 less than comparable local authority rents in England. At present, more than 75% of Executive tenants receive help with their rent through Housing Benefit. This should help to minimise the impact of this increase."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Housing Executive currently has a housing stock of around 130,000. Registered housing associations have some 15,000 units. Housing associations normally increase their rents in line with the Housing Executive.