Council house rents are York is set to rise by an average of £1.58 a week next year, if councillors give the move the go-ahead.

The Government has issued the City of York Council with guidelines advising an increase of 3.6 per cent, which will bring average rents from £44.05 to £45.63.

The increases are due to be introduced from April.

Sixty four homes will see an additional increase of £1 above this as part of an ongoing scheme to level out rents following the merging of the old city council area with parts of neighbouring areas when the City of York Council was formed.

Coun Viv Kind, executive member for housing, will hear a report on housing rents at a council meeting tomorrow.

Ruth Brigham, finance manager, will give her typical rent increases for different kinds of properties in York.

These examples include:

* Large three-bed semi in Carr Lane, £67.39 (2000/1), £69.58 (2001/2)

* Unmodernised bedsit in Burton Stone Lane £24.93 up to £25.75

* Sheltered ground floor flat in Marjorie Waite Court £43.28 to £44.66

* Pre-war three-bed semi in Kingsway North £54.03 to £55.82.

The rent increase will have to be approved by councillors before it is introduced.

Updated: 14:12 Monday, January 29, 2001