'Council has got no respect for how businesses are run'

AN angry business owner has been slapped with a £4,490 council rent hike.

- Thomas Cooper

John Daniels is now expected to pay £924-a-month for his Burslem commercial unit from April 1.

The 58-year-old has been operating his construction business from the Maplehurst Close address since 2019 and was paying Stoke-on-Trent City Council £6,600-a-year. But that annual figure has now shot up to £11,090 - a 68 per cent increase.

John said: "Our contract was for three years and I expected to receive a letter on the third year saying they were going to put the rent up but it never happened.

"Fast forward a few years and last August I received a letter off the council saying they've reviewed everything and they're going to be doubling the rent. I was flabbergasted.