Pembrokeshire’s council house tenants will face a rent increase of 2.5 percent a week, with an additional £1 a week, from April 4 this year.

Recommendations approved by Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet today (Monday) will help bring the authority in line with Welsh Government target rent levels by 2045.

The increase is more than last year’s and consists an increase of one percent consumer price index, plus 1.5 percent and a weekly £1 transitional increase, which the authority must apply until its properties reach nationally set target rent levels.

“We need and want more homes,” said cabinet member for housing and the voluntary sector Alison Lee. “We can use housing revenue account money to increase our stock.”

She said the authority had deliberately chosen not to implement the maximum increase of £2.

“Things are still tight for everyone in Pembrokeshire. We don’t want to overburden anybody.

“It is going to take us 20 to 30 years to get to our target. But we have had one of the lowest rents in the whole of the UK not just Wales and the houses are of the highest quality.”

Service charge adjustments and ground maintenance service charges will be discussed at a later date.

Cabinet members unanimously approved the proposed rent increases and refered the director’s report to the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee.