Dozens of Coventry locals are up in arms over a huge £1,000 increase in service charges for their social housing flats. The demand to sign a new tenancy agreement has also raised alarm and been likened to a "return to Dickensian times." Coventry Live readers are concerned that the costs will be passed onto the tax payer through benefit payments.

Housing provider Citizen insists the hike represents the actual cost of providing the services and stands by its new contract terms. Tenants at Nauls Mill House are set to experience a spike of at least 160% - which translates to an average weekly jump of £22.05 - when the revised charges kick in this April.

However, about 50 residents of the

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