Highland Council Dingwall and Seaforth committee asked to rubber-stamp one per cent rent hike for local authority-owned garages

Dingwall and Seaforth councillors will be asked to agree to a one per cent hike in rents for local authority-owned garages – which equates to an extra £5 to £6 a year.

Currently the annual rent for a council tenant who has a garage is £510.64 and for a non-tenant it is £618.8 – that could rise to £515.84 and £612.56 respectively.

In line with the one per cent council house rent increase that was agreed at the Housing and Property Committee last month the same level will be applied to garages.

There are 277 garages in the ward at the moment with 192 in use and 85 are empty while there are also seven “garage sites” with two of those occupied though the sites are much cheaper.

If the increase is adopted then revenues from garage rentals will go from more than £151,000 to almost £153,000.

Rory MacLeod, Housing Manager, explained: “Tenant consultation on the general rent increase for council house rents for 2022/23 was based on options for a one per cent or a 1.5 per cent rent increase. A one per cent general rent increase was approved by the Housing and Property Committee.

“At the Dingwall and Seaforth Area Committee of 9 November 2021, members considered information on the demand and condition of garages with a view to monitoring progress with repairs allocations and future investment.

“The area housing team has focussed on inspections, void repairs and allocation of garages that are ready for let. This activity has reduced the number of void garages from 99 to 85 although demand remains stable at 65 due to new garage applications.

“While a secondary focus when compared to houses, garage void repairs are being reviewed to target green rated garages in higher demand areas the first instance.

“The estimated cost of void repairs to return all garages into use is £12,870. Future investment is being considered at a range of sites with the focus being on parking amenity or structural improvements.

“Capital investment priorities will be identified through the 2022/23 financial year.”

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