ALMOST £60m will be spent on repairing and maintaining Barnsley Council’s housing stock over the next two years - although tenants have been told that their rents will rise.
Berneslai Homes’ anticipated works for 2025/26 and 2026/27 was revealed in a cabinet report, which is set to be signed off by councillors on January 8.
The Chronicle can reveal the largest chunk - £23m - will be ring-fenced for ‘responsive’ repairs which require urgent attention while £6m will be spent on pre-planned work.
Damp, mould and condensation will cost £2m to put right, while another £2m will be spent on a thorough painting programme, but anticipated rent yields of £170m have been forecast for the two-year period as a result of the 2.7 per cent hike.
The report, compiled by director of finance Neil Copley, said: “While the council recently had a positive inspection from the Regulator of Social Housing, particularly in reference to the safety and quality of our homes, it requires continued investment and improvement in the management and maintenance of our stock going forward.
“It should be recognised that Barnsley has managed to balance budget requirements during 2025/26 and 2026/27 ensuing that investment is being made which best addresses our local circumstances and is aligned to the robust stock data that we now hold.
“This is a positive position for Barnsley, allowing a focus on those areas that matter most to our tenants with an opportunity to best understand the implications of emerging pressures both locally and nationally.
“Members should note that for the council to be able to set a balanced housing revenue budget for 2025/26 and operationally allow a continuation of the existing level of works and priority investments in relation to decency and compliance, a 2.7 per cent rent increase is required.
“From a tenant’s perspective, 2.7 per cent would represent an average increase of £2.44 a week, raising the average weekly rent from £90.66 to £93.10.”
By approving the scheme, the council say the backlog of tenants waiting for repairs should be cleared, without the delays that would typically carry over into the next financial year.
The cabinet report confirmed that almost 77,000 repairs had been made across the estate but satisfaction levels have plummeted and three-quarters of their targets were missed at the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, added: “We want all our tenants to live in a safe, warm and welcoming environment.
“These additional resources will enable us to accelerate the completion of these works in the year reducing the amount of accumulated works rolling over for delivery in 2025/26.
“This will ensure a better service provision is provided for those tenants awaiting works.”
