Northern Ireland Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie has today approved a 1.9% rent increase for Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants in 2010/11.

The increase will equate, on average, to less than £1 per week for tenants.

"In these times of financial hardship and budget cuts, for ordinary people in their day to day lives every penny counts," said the Minister.

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"I am determined to meet the needs of tenants by keeping the rent increase to a minimum while seeking to provide the necessary additional funding for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s maintenance programmes.

"What’s more, the impact of the increase will be zero to almost 80% of Housing Executive tenants, who will not have to pay this additional sum of less than £1 per week, as they are on housing benefits," she added.

(NS/GK)