COUNCIL house rents in the New Forest are due to jump by well above the rate of inflation for the second year running.

Tenants are facing an increase of more than seven per cent, which will result in the average weekly rent rising from £84.47 to £90.48 from April.

Civic leaders are blaming the Government’s campaign to bring council house rents in line with those paid by people living in housing association properties.

The increase, which follows a 6.2 per cent rise last year, was revealed at a meeting of the Tory-run district council.

Jill Cleary, Cabinet member for housing, said: “I’m pleased to say that we will be operating a balanced budget for 2012-2013. But this will be little comfort to our tenants, who are facing a 7.2 per cent rise in their rents.

“This is a result of the council being required to again follow the Government’s rent re-structuring policy, which aims to equalise rents across the whole of the social housing sector.

“This seems to take away local control and would therefore appear to be contrary to the Government’s localism agenda.”

Tenants’ representatives at the meeting expressed disappointed at the increase but said they realised that the council was not to blame.