A housing budget for the 2015/16 year has been agreed by North Lanarkshire Council.

The local authority has said it will increase its rent by 2.75%, still keeping the rate at an affordable levels for tenants. It will mean the average rent will rise by £1.54 a week.

The council has said the additional rent income will subsequently be used to maintain and improve its housing stock, and bring additional empty homes back into use. It will also help the local economy, by helping to fund 20 new apprenticeships each year until 2018.

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Councillor Sam Love, Convener of Housing and Social Work Services, explained: "Tenants are at the heart of this year's budget. We know, financially, times are tough for many families and it's important for us to recognise this when setting our budget.

"Despite this increase, our rents will remain well below other Scottish councils and also significantly below rents charged by other local housing providers.

"We're also delighted to announce a package of service improvements totalling £3.5m, and in allocating this funding, we've taken on board the views of our tenants through consultation."

The £3.5m of service improvements include a further £2.5m to accelerate the council's programme to replace kitchens, bathrooms, roofing and rendering; and an additional £500,000 to increase its Empty Homes Purchase Scheme, which allow for 10 empty properties to be brought back into use. The housing repairs budget is also being increased by £500,000 to ensure council homes meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS).

(JP/MH)