Councillors approved the rise at a special meeting yesterday, increasing the average rent by £6.09 per week over the 48-week rental period, from £84.61 in 2024/25 to £90.70 in 2025/26.

Stirling Council’s average rent last year was the second lowest of all local authorities in Scotland and the new rate supports the view of the majority of council tenants who responded to a consultation.

Tenants were consulted in November and December 2024 on potential rate increases of 7.2%, 8% or 8.5%, with the majority of residents who responded (61%) supporting a 7.2% increase.

Stirling Council rents are, on average, 28% lower than other social landlords in the local area and 5% lower than peer local authorities.

Supported by the rental income, £18.446m will be invested in the housing stock in 2025/26, which will enable the development of 89 new homes. The development of new homes will also be supported by £4.2m of grant funding from the Scottish Government.

Approximately £1.75m will be spent on the installation of 212 new kitchens in council homes, with 145 bathrooms also to be replaced at a cost of around £900,000.

A central heating programme, focusing on the replacement of outdated boilers and inefficient heating systems, will also see investment of around £1.3m.

A further £1.75m will be committed to install up to 170 solar panel systems and 100 battery storage systems to council homes.

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Gerry McGarvey, said: “Investment of almost £18.5m will not only bring additional homes into our council stock, but enhance the quality of existing housing across our communities.

“We are committed to reinvesting every penny from rent increases into our housing services, and remain dedicated to improving energy efficiency in our homes. Not only is that good for the environment, but it also helps reduce the number of tenants living in fuel poverty.”

Stirling Council will now write to its tenants to notify them of the rent increase for their properties for 2025/26.

A recording of the meeting can be viewed at: Home - Stirling Council streaming (public-i.tv)