ALTON residents who rent garages from housing provider Radian have criticised a "shocking" price hike coming into effect next month.

The "staggering 38 per cent" rent increase has not gone down well with Andrew Bufton who has a garage on Jenner Way.

"Obviously, this has caused an uproar amongst the tenants of the garages," he told the Herald.

Having outsourced management to Secure Parking and Storage (SPS) in June, Radian said this sudden increase still leaves them below the market rate.

Mr Bufton believes with the garages in high demand renters are left with a simple choice - "take it or leave it".

But many are "in a poor state of repair and have been so for a number of years".

Penny Webster-Brown said she decided to clear their garage out and "let it go".

"Apparently, their excuse is that garages are in short supply," she added. "It’s not even like they maintain them, ours has foliage growing through the back wall."

Mr Bufton was angry too at the lack of communication ahead of the decision.

"No consultation was carried out with the tenants of the garages as to any increase - let alone such an exorbitant one," he said.

"Moreover, they hide behind the management company (SPS) that they appointed last year to run the leasing of the garages for them. If you contact Radian, they refer to SPS, and vice versa.

"The disgraceful reply that I got from SPS was that if I didn’t want to rent the garage, I could give it up as there were plenty of people waiting to do so.

"Not a helpful suggestion and certainly not an answer to what they will do with the increased revenue.

"Simply put, as a private householder (and not a housing tenant of Radian who do not pay VAT on their garage rent) inclusive of VAT, my garage rent will rise from around £47 a month to £66 a month.

"This is 38 per cent or £200 a year."

A Radian spokesman said: "Radian outsourced garage management to Secure Parking and Storage (SPS) in June 2018. SPS have experience in managing garage stock for a number of housing associations in the UK.

"Their expert advice was that our garage charges were significantly below market rates for the area and have addressed that difference.

"Radian is aware that the increase is higher than in previous years and that this could result in some hard decisions being made across households.

"We appreciate it is not ideal but we believe the rates are still lower than market rates and customers have the option to surrender the garage. Customers should continue to contact SPS to discuss their garage account.

"SPS can be contacted on (01753) 294 140."

Many tenants took to Facebook to vent their frustration.

Mandy Young said: "We’ve just handed notice in on ours, at least Dick Turpin wore a mask."