‘Rubbish, rats, crumbling homes’: The London borough facing 9% council tax rise

‘Rubbish, rats, crumbling homes’: The London borough facing 9% council tax rise



Posted by theipaper

13 comments

  1. For Newham residents like Allmamun Fkir, a nine per cent council tax rise in April will only worsen the housing crisis that has engulfed the east [London](https://inews.co.uk/topic/london?ico=in-line_link) borough.

    The Labour-run local authority has blamed rising homelessness and the soaring costs of temporary accommodation for its decision to implement one of the biggest increases to the levy in England.

    Earlier this month the [Government gave the council permission to raise council tax](https://inews.co.uk/topic/council-tax?ico=in-line_link) by 8.99 per cent – nearly double the cap of 4.99 per cent – to avoid bankruptcy.

    But Green and independent councillors have warned that the jump in bills, which is combined with a reduction in discounts for poorer households, will hurt those who are most vulnerable.

    Mr Fkir, a 47-year-old waiter, received an eviction notice last month from his landlord, who said he wanted the property back, and is already struggling to afford another place to live.

    He currently pays £1,525 a month for a two-bedroom flat that he and his wife share with their three sons.

    The only two-bedroom flats being advertised cost upwards of £2,000 a month.

    On top of a massive jump in rent, he now faces higher council tax bills. “This is a very big burden for us,” he told *The i Paper*. “Nine per cent is just too much.”

    He is considering leaving Newham as the area has become “very expensive”.

  2. Another Brexit/Tory benefit as UK taxpayers pay benefits to millionaires while ignoring the taxpayers needs.

  3. Tying increases in rent and slum landlords not cleaning properties to a council tax rise is insincere considering council tax doesn’t and can’t help towards those issues. They would still be the exact same if you paid no council tax.

  5. Probably because so many are on benefits there that it’s expensive for those who pay

  6. The M25 would make a great foundation for a 50ft wall.

  7. So, parasitic landlords cause a huge problem. I news tries to blame council tax and Labour for problem, whilst ignoring the real problem even after mentioning the actual problem in order to emphasise the fake one…

    Wonderful journalism. Congratulations.

  10. Who could have guessed that 15 years of government driven austerity would cause both financial and social problems.

  11. Sadly they only solution is to leave London for smaller cities/towns more affordabl3

  13. He’s paying nearly 2k to live in that gang hive. Such injustice for people in the UK. How is anyone supposed to survive on rent like that in those conditions long term?!

Comments are closed.