Higher earning tenants to hit with higher rents

Tory government legislation will require all tenants with sa household income of more than £31,000 to pay more to the Labour-led council.

Milton Keynes councillor Nigel Long said: “It will mean families paying different rents for the same property. Why do modest income households have to pay more when the government keeps giving tax breaks to the well off?”

He says it will be time-consuming for the council to check up on its 12,000 tenants every year, and the money would be better spent repairing homes and providing services.

The income rule will not take childcare costs into account for working parents.

Mr Long said: “Two parents could each be earning £16,000 but they may be paying out £250 a week in childcare.

“This is a recipe for forcing people back into low paid work or low income. 
It is unfair and reflects government thinking at its worst.”