CONFUSED housing association tenants are to consider taking legal action after suffering large unexpected rent increases.

Bill Hughes, aged 79, of High Street, Silverdale, last night held a public meeting with fellow bemused Aspire Housing residents who say their rent has increased by more than 40 per cent in just six years.

Aspire Housing, which rents about 8,500 properties to about 20,000 people in the region, bought Mr Hughes's property in 2000 as part of a deal to buy council housing.

To fund the deal, new tenants were charged more rent but it stayed the same for council tenants transferring to Aspire. They were told they would have gradual increases until 2022.

Aspire said the rate of increase would be at the rate of inflation plus one per cent until 2005 followed by an unstated amount.

But residents say they have suffered five years of annual increases of inflation plus 0.5 per cent, plus £2 a week.

Tenants also say a compulsory £2.35 per week caretaking charge has been introduced.

Mr Hughes, who has lived in his property for 58 years, has been told by Aspire Housing the increases will end by 2017, instead of 2022, meaning the remaining rises will be steeper.

Residents. who met at St Luke's Church, in Silverdale last night, say neither Aspire Housing or local government officials have taken responsibility for the increases.

Mr Hughes, a retired electrical engineer and former county councillor, finally decided to take action after his rent increased by £9.50 per week in the last 17 months.

At last night's meeting he said: "I've written to the ombudsman and he thinks there's grounds to investigate.

"If the ombudsman comes out in my favour Aspire will have to do something. We're confused and we will consider legal action as the last resort.

"Some people have told me they're cutting back on their heating and the food.

George Coxon, aged 76, has lived in Church Street, Silverdale, for more than 30 years and has seen his rent increase by 42 per cent since 2005.

He said: "Aspire have been blaming the government during this time. I don't know how they expect pensioners to pay."

"All I want is straight answers. Aspire and the government can't keep blaming each other. Someone has to give definitive answers."

John Coates, aged 55, of Galleys Bank, Kidsgrove, who lives with his father in Aspire Housing accommodation, said: "My dad's now 85 years old and it's a good job I live with him because of these rent increases. They keep expecting more of him as a tenant.

"We've lived in council housing all our lives and kept savings so we could live comfortably, yet in this stage of my dad's life his rent is increasing."

His father, Frederick, said: "I've been a loyal tenant for 50 years and it means nothing. They just kick you in the teeth."

Caroline Baggaley, from Aspire, said: "We have no choice in the annual level of rent increase, but our rents are among the lowest in the country for housing associations.

"We aim to provide excellent services for the rents our customers pay and we invest more than £10 million a year in improving homes."