Residents across the borough are outraged after receiving bills through their door for what has been dubbed the “Tenant Top-Up Taxes” introduced by Thurrock Council.

The bills sent to council tenants list charges for lift maintenance, door entry systems communal heating and lighting, and grounds maintenance.

The total extra payable could be nearly £400 per year for some residents, despite no new services being delivered.

A petition has been launched online against the charges and received more than 500 signatures in one weekend.

One resident, Valen Cook, has calculated that the service charge boosts his rent by more than 7 per cent a year.

In a letter written to the Gazette, he said: "This stealth increase in rent is yet another attack on the poor and disadvantaged residents of Thurrock.

"This may not be as large an increase in rent as the original proposal of 9 per cent but it is still more than a lot of council tenants can afford and will only force more people into financial distress."

Thurrock Labour have taken to the streets to talk to residents about the charges.

The party has consistently campaigned against the increases, brought a petition to council and voted against the council’s Housing budget in February.

However, in July the Conservative cabinet agreed to push ahead with the charges despite outcry from opposition groups and overwhelming opposition to the idea from council tenants.

Leader of the Labour Group, Oliver Gerrish said: “It’s immensely frustrating to see these charges going ahead.

"The majority of councillors are opposed to them. The majority of residents are opposed to them.

"It’s only the Tories who think bashing council tenants is a good idea.

“We have opposed these plans continually over the last year. The Tories are punishing the council’s tenants because of Tory cuts in council funding.

"I want to be really clear on this - these charges would not have been introduced under a Labour administration.

"Sadly, the Tories took their first opportunity to bring them in, and now residents are seeing the difference between a Conservative council and a Labour council.

“I am calling on the administration once again to scrap these charges. The Tories need to listen to council tenants.

"Thurrock Labour will continue our campaign against these Tenant Taxes and for a fairer Thurrock.”

Thurrock Council were contacted for comment last week but have yet to respond.

You can view the petition by clicking here.

For regular news updates, like us on Facebook and Twitter