adrian condemns big increase in 'tenant tax'

Adrian Owens, the Conservative General Election has reacted with anger to news that the Government will take an extra £450,000 of tenants' rent this year to give to other council areas which are deeply in housing debt.

Adrian said, “Our council house tenants expect their rents to stay local to pay for house repairs and estate improvements. Instead the Government has delved even deeper into tenants' pockets this year and helped itself to more than £5 million of tenants' rent, an increase of nearly 10% on last year.”

“Put another way that's £834 taken from every West Lancashire rent payer as “tenant tax” to spend in Birmingham, Brighton and elsewhere. That's more than 3 months rent from every one of our tenants that should be spent on their homes and areas.”

The Conservative prospective MP added that the current review of council house finance might alter matters, but that unless it did, it might be necessary to look again at transferring the council's housing stock to a housing association. He added “Such a move would allow this £5 million to remain in West Lancashire and be spent improving our social housing. Unfortunately, last time stock transfer was considered the local Labour party opposed it. I hope they now admit they did our tenants no favours and will reconsider their opposition.”

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