Croydon council house tenants have voted for a rent rise of 3.3 per cent - about £2 a week - to help fund improvements and repairs.

All Croydon's 17,000 tenants were given the chance by the council to vote on three proposed rent levels agreed by leading tenants' representatives.

The choices were for an increase of 3.3, 4.3 or 5.3 per cent and tenants could vote either by freepost, freephone or through the internet. A total of 4,000 tenants voted with just over 78 per cent of those voting for the 3.3 per cent increase.

The council says the rise will help fund a five-year repair and improvement programme including new safety and security measures such as better window and door locks and CCTV, a pilot neighbourhood warden scheme, children's play areas, environmental improvements, new central heating systems, new kitchens and bathrooms and maintenance repairs.

Councillor Tony Newman, Croydon council's cabinet member for housing, said: "This has been a significant exercise of local democracy and tenant power in action with council tenants heavily involved in the referendum process right from the beginning when they decided what rent levels should be considered. The rent level and package of improvements they have opted for highlights their priorities for the coming years."

Croydon is giving its residents another opportunity to have a say on what they pay in council tax when a separate referendum is held early next year to decide the council tax level for 2002/3.

December 20, 2001 10:00