GARAGE rents across the borough will increase by MORE THAN 10 per cent from September.

With around 5,800 garages across Welwyn Hatfield, the increase is expected to rake in �2.1m from residents in the next financial year.

Garage users’ weekly charge will rise to �11.57 a week, including VAT.

Before last month’s VAT rise, residents paid �10.28 a week for a garage.

Welwyn Hatfield Council’s cabinet approved the changes at a meeting last night (Tuesday).

A report from council officers warned increasing rents could see the number of empty garages increase.

Officers are also offering an 18 per cent discount at 12 blocks across the borough which have less than half of their garages in use.

The discount will be granted to existing tenants as well as new ones.

However, there is no information explaining what happens if the block then becomes more than half full, and whether residents will then have an 18 per cent increase.

The report read: “There is a need to increase revenue and an increase in garage rents has been identified as a means of doing so.

“Tenants have already suffered from one rent increase this year due to the increase in VAT.

“It is therefore recommended this further increase is not carried out until September.”

* The 50 per cent empty blocks are located in Cotswolds, Branch Close, Bishops Rise, Newstead, Hillcrest, Garden Avenue, and Furzen Crescent, all in Hatfield; Cowper Road, The Firs, and Breakmead in WGC; Black Walk, Welwyn; and Dellsome Lane, Welham Green.