Councillors meet tonight (Wednesday) to agree April’s annual rent increase for their 5,600 properties across Ellesmere Port and Neston.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Tory-controlled Executive will be asked to approve an average rent increase of 6.15% with a typical householder seeing a rise from £74.38 to £78.95 a week, costing them an extra £4.57 a week.

For properties already achieving target rents, the annual rent increase would be 3.7%.

The report also recommends no increase in garage charges, no increase to the 600 users of the Lifeline service and no increase on shop rental charges, with a 3.2% increase in management charges for leaseholders.

The recommendations are said to be in line with coalition Government formulas and inflation.

The council argues they are designed to ensure it can continue to invest in its property portfolio through maintenance and improvement schemes.

Executive member for growth and innovation, Cllr Herbert Manley (Con) said: “At the end of March 2013, the council was looking at a situation where more than 40% of its 5,600 properties needed significant maintenance and improvement works.

“We are dedicated to bringing all of our properties up to an acceptable standard and with the five-year plan in place that figure has already reduced to 35% and will continue to go down year on year from now on.

“The standard for vacant property lets has been raised considerably following agreement with tenant representatives and all empty properties are now benefiting from significant works including re-wiring and bathroom and kitchen refurbishments where necessary.

“The annual rental increase will help us to ensure that this can continue to happen, for the benefit of residents, whilst allowing loans taken out to carry out the works to be paid back within the 30-year timeframe.”

Cllr Manley added: “In the future we hope to see any surplus funding ploughed back into social rented, affordable and low-cost housing to help households, reduce the pressure on waiting lists and help to reduce fuel bills and fuel poverty.”

The homes are managed by Plus Dane as part of a £100m five-year contract to provide housing services for tenants and leaseholders in the area.