Highland Council garage rents in Inverness to rise 10% after City Committee vote

PEOPLE who rent garages from the council in Inverness face a 10 per cent increase for 2023/24.

Garage sites also face a similar hike the Highland Council's City of Inverness Committee agreed.

Garage rent for council tenants will increase weekly by 62p from £6.24 to £6.86, and the same for non-tenants plus VAT to £6.86 +VAT.

Garage Site Rent for tenants will increase by 10p from £1.03 to £1.13. and the same for non-tenants plus VAT.

Tenant consultation on the general rent increase for council garage rents for 2023/24 was based on options for a 3%, 5% or 7% rent increase.

A 4% general increase was agreed by members at Housing and Property Committee last month.

However, the council said that due to the low rents in Inverness, a 10% increase was presented to members for consideration at the City of Inverness Area Committee and the 10% rent increase was recommended for garage and garage site rents which is below the current (November 2022) inflation rate of 10.7%.

Following a vote, members agreed the 10% increase, "due to current financial pressures impacting both the public and the council."

It was agreed however that any additional rent income from garages and garage sites generated by a rent increase will be applied as an increase in the area repairs budget for garages and garage sites in 2023/24.

The rent rises mean income will increase from £111,114 to £122,258.

The increase will commence from April 2023 and garage tenants will be notified by letter.

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