'A scandal': Anger as residents forced to live in 'freezing' tower blocks with soaring energy bills now told rent is going UP

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Social housing tenants living in 'freezing' conditions since flammable cladding came off their blocks have called a hike in their rent a 'scandal'.

The nine blocks of flats, which are owned by Salford council but managed by Pendleton Together, have been plagued with problems for years.

All nine apartment blocks finally had their flammable cladding removed by the end of 2020 – some three years after the lethal Grenfell Tower fire in London.

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But while the work to replace the insulating cladding continues - with the end date still two years away - temperatures at the apartments have plummeted.

The housing association has offered tenants £30 a month to help with heating bills but some have said their energy costs have been up to ten times higher.

Now, the Pendleton Together tenants have been hit by a 4.1 per cent rise in rent after the council's cabinet approved the increase in a meeting on Tuesday (February 8).

Councillors have five days to 'call in' the decision if they are unhappy with it.

A hardship fund to support households facing financial difficulties will also be set up, using £216,000 of additional income - however it's not currently clear to what extent it will mitigate the increase in rent.

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The city's deputy major, Councillor John Merry, has said the council is still 'working through details' of the fund and how it will work.

Robert Vaudrey, who lives with his wife and daughter in Holm Court, has