North Lanarkshire Council, Scotland's largest local authority landlord with around 37,200 properties, has announced its 2009/20010 housing budget totalling over £100m.

And, for the fourth consecutive year, the Council will keep average rent increases at 3.5%.

This increase together with savings of £542,000 will fund over £1.2 m of service improvements, including:

• An additional £600,000 towards the council's new build programme.
• £20,000 to promote tenant participation initiatives
• A further £400,000 in repairs and maintenance (in addition to the £38m annual investment in repairs and maintenance)
• A £200,000 increase in the Housing Capital Programme - taking this investment to £42.3m for this year

The council is on target to implement a standard housing rent structure for all council properties in North Lanarkshire - harmonising rent levels inherited from former authorities. The new average weekly rent in North Lanarkshire of £48.88 (over 52 weeks) is the 13th lowest in Scotland and approximately 3% below the national local authority average of £50.51.


Approximately 60% of council tenants will have this increase covered by increases to their housing benefit and 76% of these people receive full entitlement to meet their housing rent costs. The increase will come into effect from 1 April 2009.

"This budget puts investment into our housing stock and keeps rent levels below the national average," said Councillor Barry McCulloch, Convener of Housing and Social Work Services. "It ensures that residents of North Lanarkshire have access to good quality, affordable housing."

(GK/JM)