Council house rents in Southend could shortly go up by an average of nearly £150 a year.

Southend Council plans to put up rent for an average home, from £57 a week to £60, asking tenants to fork out an extra £148 a year.

This represents an increase of 5 per cent, which is the maximum the council is allowed to charge under Government guidelines.

The increase is likely to anger many tenants. One, Emma Lewis, of Cluny House, in Cluny Square, was quick to speak out.

She said: "The council puts the rent up every year, but I don't get anything out of it. It should be concentrating on what needs to be done.

"I've got asthma but my bathroom is covered from top to bottom in mould. I'm having to sleep in a bedroom with mould, too."

Officials wanted an even steeper increase - of 7.6 per cent - to bring average rents to £61.

This would have means an extra £226 a year for tenants to find, but would have exceeded the Government's maximum figure.

The aim is gradually to bring up the rent so that by 2011, the council's 6,241 tenants pay the same as those with housing association landlords.

Rent increases will vary, depending on the type of homes.

* Bedsits will go up from £45 a week to £47

* Single-bedroomed flat rents will rise from £51 to £54

* Rents for two-bedroomed homes will rise from £60 to £63

* Three-bedroomed flat and house tenants will pay £69 instead of £66

* Four-bedroomed house rents will go up from £77 to £80

 On the positive side, tenants will see more invested in improvements to their homes.

In the coming year, £4.6million is to be spent on repairs and redecoration, including:

* £1million of improvements to central heating.

* £850,000 for rewiring work in homes.

* £750,000 for improvements to bathrooms.

* £700,000 to revamp kitchens in homes.

* £200,000 for roof repairs.

* £400,000 on new windows.

The rent increases will be discussed by the council's cabinet next Tuesday.