Government announces new social rent rise formula

The government says public sector housing rents will be linked to inflation in future.

The Department of Infrastructure has announced from next April, annual rent rises will go up by September's Consumer Price Index Rate plus an optional one per cent if asked for by housing organisations.

It says the changes will apply to more than 6,200 public sector properties across the Island.

And it adds the previous way of setting rises - with the DOI setting increases after talks with local authorities - wasn't transparent enough.