Tower block tenants who were left freezing after cladding was removed set to face rent hike

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Rent for tenants in a tower blocks plagued with issues look set to increase. Salford council’s cabinet has been recommended to approve the 4.1 per cent increase for Pendleton Together, where social housing tenants have suffered freezing conditions since flammable cladding came off their blocks.

All nine apartment blocks finally had their flammable cladding removed by the end of 2020 in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in London. The wait goes on for the cladding to be replaced.

The housing association has offered financial help for heating bills, but back in February some said their energy costs were up to 10 times higher.

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On February 28, the Growth and Prosperity Scrutiny Panel called-in the decision, urging the mayor and his cabinet to have a re-think. The panel's reasons for its decision were stated as the increased service charges and rent not being proportionate to the service received based on the reduced services and facilities over the last five years.

The cabinet says it has brought in ‘positive enhancements’ to support the tenants:

The cabinet report, responding to comments from the panel, said: “The steep rise in inflation has been a key consideration for the council. The cost of the PFI contract to the council is increased each year in February by RPIx this is 8.3 per cent for February 2022.

“This is creating additional pressures between the income being received and the substantial cost increase for the contract. The rental charge covers the housing management, repairs and investment cost.”

The Pendleton Hardship fund will make available £216k for 2022/23 as per the previous cabinet recommendation. In addition