Stirling Council has committed to a record-breaking investment of more than £28.7 million in its local housing stock for the 2026/27 financial year.

The decision was finalised during a Special Meeting of the Council on Monday 16 February, where a rent increase of 5.8% was approved. This adjustment will see the average weekly rent rise by £5.43 over a 48-week period, moving from £90.37 in 2025/26 to £95.61 in 2026/27.

The 5.8% rise was the lowest of three options presented to residents during a consultation held in late 2025, receiving support from 60% of respondents. Despite the increase, Stirling's council rents remain approximately 26% lower than other social landlords in the region and 11% lower than peer local authorities.

-- Advertisement --

A significant portion of the £28.7 million budget will fund the development of 126 new homes, bolstered by £9.7 million in Scottish Government grant funding. The remainder of the investment is dedicated to a comprehensive internal and external improvement programme, including:

• Kitchens and Bathrooms: £1.95 million for 228 new kitchens and £1.26 million for 195 bathroom replacements.

• Heating and Windows: £1.41 million to upgrade central heating in 372 homes and £1.14 million for window replacements in 220 properties.

• Sustainability: £1.75 million earmarked for the installation of solar panel systems in approximately 220 council homes.

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Susan McGill, said: "This decision strikes a careful balance between keeping rents as affordable as possible for our tenants, while ensuring we can continue to invest in warm, safe, high-quality homes.

"In particular, we remain committed to improving energy efficiency, which is not only good for the environment but, crucially, helps reduce the number of tenants living in fuel poverty. Our rents are consistently among the lowest in Scotland and the £28.7 million investment will support vital improvements to improve existing homes, as well as bringing additional homes into our council stock."

The Council will now issue formal notifications to all tenants regarding the specific rent adjustments for the coming year.