HOUSING officials will meet tomorrow to decide whether to approve rent increases for Kirklees Council properties.

The main board of Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH) - the firm which manages housing for Kirklees Council - will meet to discuss the increases which would come into force in April.

An increase of 3.1% on council house rents is being proposed.

This means an average yearly bill increase of £50.34 for council house residents.

Costs for all services for council house tenants will also rise, by 2.8%.

Tenants using door entry systems will pay 1p extra a week for them, those with coin box telephones will also pay 1p more and those with communal cleaners will pay 11p extra.

For parking spaces the cost will rise by 8p a week. People will have to pay 10p a week more for garages, and 14p for resident caretakers.

People living in sheltered housing will pay 18p a week more for their services and those with concierges face the biggest weekly price rise - 34p extra.

A report by Kirklees Council housing director Tony Hood said the increases were needed to cover a gap of £1.1m between the Housing Revenue Account's income and the amount that has to be spent in 2004/5.

The changes will also bring KNH into line with Government changes to the way local authority homes are funded.

Mr Hood said: "Factors outlined in a detailed report result in a gap between expected income and expenditure of £1.1m in 2004/5. This gap must be addressed.

"The budget process for the Housing Revenue Account is also heavily influenced by the Government's financial regime, in particular the rules of rent restructuring and subsidy."

As well as putting up prices, KNH plan to take a 2% cut in their management fee from Kirklees Council to help balance the budget.

There are also plans to reduce money spent on repairs and maintenance, as there is currently spare money in that area.

The final step in KNH's financial plan is to boost funds by improving the collection of outstanding rent from tenants.

The main board of KNH will meet tomorrow to decide whether to approve the plans.