Changes in how local authorities work out council house rents will mean lower rent for Kirklees tenants in the coming years.

From April this year Government changes require rents to be set on the basis of affordability and property valuation.

In Kirklees it will mean that over the next decade, rent increases will be lower than the inflation rate.

The changes also require councils to make a small service charge to tenants who receive some specific extra services such as door entry systems, caretaking, cleaning of communal areas and staircases, coin-box telephones, and sheltered housing scheme management.

Others will remain free, such as lift maintenance, fire and smoke alarms, lighting of staircases and communal areas and estate grounds.

Councillor Graham Simpson, Cabinet member responsible for housing, said: "Any service charge will be limited to no more than £2 a week, plus inflation in the first year, with small increases in following years. The maximum increase of rent and service charge together will be £3.50.

"For people who receive Income Support and full Housing Benefit, the extra service charges will be met by an automatic adjustment to their benefit."