RENTS will go up by an average of £1.26 a week for Bolton's 22,000 council tenants from April 3.

Bolton's housing committee will be asked tomorrow to approve the 3.8 per cent increase.

Cllr Brian Iddon, chairman of Bolton's housing committee, said: "The level of rent increase is now out of our hands.

"It is the Government which sets it."

For the first year, Bolton and other councils will have the rent increase set at a maximum "capping" level by the Government.

"It is clear that the Government is gearing up for a General Election and wants rent rises keeping down," Cllr Iddon said. Bolton was recently criticised by the Government for having one of the lowest rents in Greater Manchester. The average rent of around £32 will be paid over 48 weeks and housing chiefs are expected to approve a change in the four "rent-free" weeks tomorrow.

Tenants will have two free weeks at Christmas next year instead of one.

The extra week will replace one in the September holiday week.

The other two weeks are at the beginning of the financial year in April and during the June Bolton holidays.

The average increase will not apply to 1,500 properties in the borough where the council is trying to bring their rents in line with others in the town.

There are 900 houses which have rents of less that £27.50 and they will have an extra £1 on their increase.

Another 800 flats which have a rent of more than £35 will have a £1 less than the average rise.

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