ANGRY residents are demanding to know why garages across Bicester are being allowed to fall into ruin and become magnets for anti-social behaviour.

Rents at some Sanctuary Housing Association owned properties across Oxfordshire have increased by 60 per cent but people have been left questioning where their cash is going.

Earlier this year residents in Witney complained about a sudden rise as it could add to parking problems in the town and now those living in Bicester have been hit with a similar charge even though many of the garages are an eyesore.

They say many of the dilapidated structures have peeling paint, leaking roofs and overgrown plants meaning they are very rarely used which contributes to parking problems in the town.

Kingsclere Road resident Ray Holton said: “My Garage rent has been increased by £23 a month but it does not appear to be used for the upkeep of the garages, yet Sanctuary Housing are quick enough to send up to three of their vans to a recently vacated house or bungalow.

“Why can Sanctuary Housing let them get into this condition? If they were still council-owned they never would have got like this.

“I am very annoyed - they should be bought back into proper use and help with parking in Charlbury Road. I have spoken to people there which say the garages are hardly ever used.

“You only need to look for yourself to see the state they are in and appear not to be used.

“With the amount they are charging there should be some sort of upkeep.”

Some of the worst offending garages, according to locals, can be found in Charlbury Road, Kingsclere Road and Ashby Road.

Mr Holton said leaving the garages in this state not only increases problems with parking but also encourages other issues.

He says there have been signs of drug use around some which he has reported to Sanctuary Housing.

Lawrence Linfitt of Chalvey Road said: “I have had at least one garage for a good 10 years and rents do usually go up marginally each year by not this much.

“They have been left to go into disrepair and are all getting damaged, so the fact they are asking me for £16.80 a week is ridiculous.”

Bicester Town Councillor Les Sibley said: “How can Sanctuary Housing justify the garage increases?

“Garages are small and have no electric or water facilities.

“These garages are not fit for purpose, no money has been spent on maintaining them and they have been left in a bad state of repair and vacant for many years.”

Rental prices have seen a hike right across the county for those garages owned by Sanctuary Housing.

The housing association says its prices have risen to stay in line with its competitors.

Spokeswoman Amy Weiser said: “This is the first time we have reviewed rates for garage rentals taking into account local private competitor’s rates in the surrounding market, and the increases are to help bring costs more in line with the average for the area.

“If one of our garages is in need of repair, we would encourage the tenant to contact us directly.”