RBC to buy new council homes and upgrade 140 others - The Rugby Observer

RBC to buy new council homes and upgrade 140 others

Rugby Editorial 6th Feb, 2020 Updated: 6th Feb, 2020   0

NEW council houses, improvements to current ones, and a rise in council rent have been announced by Rugby Borough Council.

The council is to buy around 22 houses from the open market, and replace bathrooms and install modern high-efficiency boilers in 140 other council properties, after councillors approved RBC’s housing budget.

The new homes will cost the council over £3m, funded by ‘right-to-buy’ sales of council houses and Housing Capital Investment balances.

Heating upgrades will cost £1.75m, and £360,000 will be spent on new bathrooms.




The average weekly rent for a council home will rise by £2.24 per week to £85.14 following several years of rent reductions. Service charges will stay broadly the same.

The budget takes account of the loss of council properties at Biart Place, where two tower blocks are currently being dismantled, and at three blocks at Rounds Gardens, where tenants are being rehomed in advance of them being replaced.


Council communities and homes spokeswoman Coun Emma Crane said: “As a landlord we are very mindful of the need to keep investing in our properties to keep them at a high standard. By doubling the number of properties that are to get new heating systems our tenants will be better able to keep warm and well.

“We have made some changes to keep the cost of these improvements down, but after four years of rent capping we do now need to put the average weekly rent up by £2.24.”

The announcement came after Rugby Borough Council was shortlisted for Council of the Year in the annual Inside Housing awards.

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