Fees branded 'backdoor rent rise' by tenants

NEW fees, branded a “tax on the most vulnerable”, are being rolled out for Kirklees tenants from next month, as the local authority is accused of making a “backdoor rent rise”.

- By ABIGAIL MARLOW

From November 17, Kirklees Council will be charging tenants for communal grounds maintenance as it works to address ongoing financial pressures.

The new charges will be a maximum of £1 per week, depending on the amount of communal grounds maintenance on an estate.

The council says this extra income will cover the following:

■Grass cutting: grass will be cut every two to three weeks during the growing season, up to 12 times a year.

■Shrubs: Shrubs will get a trim once a year, usually during the winter months. The council will do a more thorough cutback every three years to keep them healthy.

■Hedge maintenance: Hedges will be cut once a year. The council will do this between October and February to protect nesting birds.

■Weed control: The council will treat weeds around grass edges and along walls and fences once a year, usually at the start of the growing season.