Cllr Jo Bird, who represents Bromborough, said she first heard about pensioners facing rent increases in October and now 12 people had been in touch She said people want repairs done on time, affordable rent increases, and better insulation installed in homes.
Cllr Bird added: “Many vulnerable and elderly tenants of Port Sunlight Village Trust are in considerable distress about high rent increases for mouldy and hard-to-heat homes. During a cost of living crisis, Port Sunlight Village Trust is choosing to impose extortionate rent increases. Some rents are going up by as much as 26%. This is not okay and not charitable. We urge Trustees to think again and negotiate with your tenants. Meanwhile we urge the Trust to freeze all disputed rent increases.”
She continued: “Many of their properties are cold and hard to heat. Most houses do not have Energy Performance Certificates and have not benefited from government-funded insulation grants. With £38m in assets and over £1m net surplus last year, Port Sunlight Village Trust can easily afford to improve and insulate all its 292 rented properties up to decent standards.”
