Tenants in Haringey’s Council owned properties are set to be hit by a series of inflation busting rent increases over the next three years.

Information revealed by the Liberal Democrats shows that average rents are set to increase by nearly 16% from £78.25 to £90.58 by 2011. Local Liberal Democrats have criticised HaringeyCouncil for adding yet more financial misery to cash-strapped residents crippled by rising food and energy prices and reeling from an unprecedented 6% hike in council rents this year.

Cllr Laura Edge, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, commented:

“This inflation busting increase will hit some of the poorest residents of our borough hard.They are already stretched by the unprecedented 6.5% increase this year and with the effects of the credit crunch looming large this is the last thing our tenants will want to hear.”

Hornsey & Wood Green Liberal Democrat MP, Lynne Featherstone, added:

“The Labour run council has clearly lost touch with the needs of local residents and the problems they face. They should be thinking of ways to help people through this difficult financial period rather than how to squeeze more cash from hard-pressed families.”