Sudden rent hike 'not what we signed up for'

People living on a famous set of Liverpool streets have said they will continue to fight against rent rises on their homes.

Two months ago tenants in the city's Welsh Streets were told their annual rent would be going up in some cases by as much as 31%. Following a campaign, and the intervention of local MP Kim Johnson, private landlord Placefirst proposed an annual rent cap rise of 6%.

Residents said they had signed agreements which would limit any increase to 1% above the cost of living.

Placefirst said the policy, which applied to a number of households in the first phase of the development, had been superseded and acknowledged the change "wasn't clearly communicated".

The Welsh Streets, which include Madryn Street, where Beatle Ringo Starr was born, are named after the Welsh workers who built them and lived there in the late 19th century.

Properties were saved from demolition in 2017 and refurbished.

In April some residents said they could no longer afford to live there due to the "disgusting" increases.

Tenants have so far rejected the proposed cap. They are calling for an improved cap equal to the consumer price Index plus 1%, which they said is "consistent with the policy initially promised" by Placefirst.

Resident Dan Jennings: "We see it as progress but it is not in line with what the majority of tenants signed up for."

A Placefirst representative said the company acknowledged it "didn't get everything right" over the issue and said it "wholeheartedly apologised" for the impact caused.

"We are now committed to revising our approach, addressing any remaining concerns, and demonstrating our dedication to improving the way that we do things," the company said.

"The proposed rent increase cap of 6% will mean that Welsh Streets residents will see an average increase of £57 per month and no household will see an increase of more than £80 per month.

"While we can't yet confirm the likely cap for next year, we are committed to maintaining this open and honest dialogue moving forwards."

The Acorn union, which is representing the residents, said Placefirst's refusal to commit to any cap in subsequent years meant residents had been left "in a perpetual state of uncertainty", adding: "The campaign certainly isn't over."

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