Councillors at the Housing and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee on January, 20 agreed that there will be freezes to rents for council tenants from April 2022.

Wandsworth Council will also carry on freezing fuel charges and apply a full credit against the weekly fuel costs for residents served by the communal heating and hot water system.

However, five charities across Wandsworth today warned the council of low income homes without heating this winter.

The credit has been in place since April 2021 and means that both tenants and leaseholders will continue to pay nothing for their fuel.

These freezes have been made possible by the prudent management of council rents and finances and its ability to purchase gas supplies in advance at a very competitive rate.

17,000 council tenants will benefit from the rent freezes.

The heating and hot water fuel freezes will impact over 3,000 residents.

In 2021 the Council assisted residents by applying credits to rent accounts equivalent to the weekly fuel charge.

In 2020 the council cut bills for homes on estates served by communal heating and hot water systems on average by a further 30 per cent following reductions in the preceding years.

The Council continues to work closely with residents to ensure the estates are well managed and is working to provide 1,000 new council homes by 2027 through their ambitious Housing For All programme.

Councillor Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, commented:

"Prudent management of resources has meant that Wandsworth Council has been able to assist our residents however we can. We have had the lowest council tax in the country for a number of years. Now, we are freezing our council rents, along with our heating and hot water fuel charges from April 2022. "The pandemic has presented challenges for all of us and this will be compounded by the unprecedented increase in fuel prices we are seeing across the globe. Wandsworth Council is always on the side of our residents and will continue to do what it can to help those with the least, the most." Got a story? Get in touch with Lexi Iles via [email protected] or call 07964789627 [I]Find all the latest news for your local area by following us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.