Tenants left in freezing flats plagued by problems for YEARS now face increase in rent

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Social housing tenants in Salford who have suffered freezing conditions since flammable cladding came off their blocks are set to face a 4.1 pc rise in rent.

The properties, which are owned by Salford council but managed by Pendleton Together as part of a PFI contract, 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.

READ MORE: 'This is not a life': The tower block where they put foil behind the radiators and wear dressing gowns all day to keep warm

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 will be hit by a 4.1 pc rise in rent if the city's mayor approves the proposed increase at a cabinet meeting next week.

However, a hardship fund to support households facing financial difficulties will also be set up using £216,000 of additional income, a council report says.

The report says: "Over the last year the country has experienced rising costs of living due to Covid and a significant increase in the cost of utility bills.

"The addition of a rent and service charge increase for 2022/23, will place financial pressures on many households and in some cases extreme financial hardship.

"The recommendation to increase rents by CPI plus 1 pc has not been taken lightly.

"Following careful consideration of the options available by senior officers, members have been briefed on how