A Labour councillor has angrily condemned a steep rent rise for council house tenants.

Councillor Keiran Thorpe, Labour group leader at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said the average 7.56 per cent rise, confirmed at a meeting on Monday, would bring “misery” to tenants.

The council‘s ruling Conservative administration, which will implement the rise in April, says it is based on a long-established government formula.

That formula, which is linked to inflation, will see rents rise by an average of 6.8 per cent across the country.

The additional increase in Welwyn Hatfield, the council argues, is necessary to meet the £17.3million of rent monies it has to pay to the government in subsidies each year – money used to prevent even steeper rises in poorer areas.

Councillor Thorpe, however, argued that such a steep rise should not be implemented.

He said: “Tenants are being attacked from every direction, through VAT increases, reductions of benefits or the impending threat of changes to social housing.

“Through hefty rises such as this, the Council is simply adding more misery and financial hardship on those least able to pay.”

Councillor Roger Trigg, executive member for housing, said: “It is unfortunate that more of the rental income cannot be spent on local housing services, but we will continue to seek efficiencies so that we can deliver the highest quality services possible.

"We are looking forward to new government proposals which should allow greater freedom in rent setting.”

The average council rent will rise to £82.79 per week.