Council rents set to rise

Radical changes going to be set out in the housing budget, could mean that council house tenants having to pay more rent.

The reforms could lead to tenants being forced to give up council homes that they can't afford to buy privately.

No longer will tenants be able to feel as though they have "won the jackpot" when they qualify for a house and pay only percentage of the market as rent.

Instead new rules, means tested will mean that they will have to pay up to 90 per cent of the going rent.

This will also give power to local authorities and housing associations to reassess whether tenants still need a council house after five or ten years.

The policy will not apply to existing council house tenants. Instead those waiting for homes will be subject to a new "affordable flexible tenancy."

This move was driven by the need for large cuts in the 6 billion social housing budget.