COUNCIL rent could go down following a Government U-turn aimed at helping tenants through the recession.

After an above inflation rent hike of 6.2 per cent, which came into force in April, Stroud District Council has the opportunity to halve the rent rise to 3.1 per cent.

The change, which would come into force in July, will mean that on average council tenants will have an extra £10 put back in their pocket each month.

In December last year the Government confirmed that the subsidy determination for 2009/10 would be based on a rent increase of 6.2 per cent leaving Stroud District Council little option but to raise their rents by the same figure.

However in March this year Margaret Beckett, minister for housing, announced that in the light of the unprecedented global downturn, she was prepared to offer local authorities the opportunity to bid for additional funding if they were prepared to reduce their level of rent.

She went on to state that the Government would halve the national guideline rent increase from 6.2 to 3.1 per cent.

Councillors will decide on the proposals to halve the rent increase at a full council meeting tomorrow evening.

If the changes are made it will take average rent from £73.81 a week down to £70.53 a week, more than a £10 saving for the month.

Council tenant Penny Lyons, of Dursley, said: "This rent decrease would make a real difference to everyone in council rented homes.

"Ten pounds a month may not sound like a lot of money, but that is £120 a year."