Rent charges for elderly York residents who were forced from their homes during the autumn floods are now almost certain to be waived.

Councillor Viv Kind, the city council's executive member for housing, gave her support to a scheme which will see rent owed by residents of Castle Mills sheltered housing complex, in Skeldergate, written off.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said that the plan would go ahead, assuming it was not called in by the approvals committee, which has the power to change the decision.

The 36 Castle Mills tenants had to stay with friends or relatives or in other council property after the rising waters forced them out of their homes.

But they will now not need to pay the money owed for the three weeks of the floods, at a cost to the city council of £6,723.

Seven council tenants living in Fulford and one in River Street will also not need to pay their rent for the period, at a cost of £3,217 to the authority, while rent will also be waived at 10 leased garages in Fulford, at a cost of £98.

This means that the city council will have to write off a total of more than £10,000 in rent money.

Updated: 10:31 Wednesday, January 31, 2001