Increase in maintenance spending for local authorities

The amount of money local authorities can spend on maintenance for their social housing has increased.

That's despite the rent going up to five per cent, which is under the inflation level.

Housing providers will be able to use 30 per cent of tenants rent for maintenance of properties, which has gone up from 26 per cent in the previous year.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Thomas says the increase in ‘maintenance allowance’ shows that the department has ‘confidence’ in the Island’s housing providers.