Tenants in Walsall will have to fork out an inflation-busting rent increase of almost eight per cent in some cases, the Express & Star can reveal.

It means the weekly rent on an average two-bedroom house in Walsall will go up from £58.71 to £63.37, a rise of 7.9 per cent.

Bosses at Walsall Housing Group, which manages around 20,000 properties transferred from Walsall Council in 2003, say the average increase across its homes will work out at 4.4 per cent. From April 1, a two-bedroom flat in Bloxwich will go up from £63.71 to £66.51 (4.4 per cent) and a two bedroom house in Brownhills will go up from £61.56 to £66.35 (7.8 per cent).

WHG spokesman Perry Buck said: “In line with other social landlords, WHG makes an annual rent increase in response to inflation and increased costs. The rate of any rent increase is capped by the Government, and based upon the rate of inflation, plus 0.5 per cent. Actual levels of the rent increase will differ according to property type and level of service charge. 

“For some of our customers the increase will be just a few pounds a week, for others a little more.” Mr Buck said WHG was “competitive” when compared against other registered social landlords.