A DULVERTON businessman is threatening to leave the town unless West Somerset Council has second thoughts about tripling the rent on a unit he occupies on the Barns Close industrial estate.

Tom Reeves, 32, who has run a car body repair business from the unit for the past four years, said that, on the termination of his current lease at the end of October, he was shocked to receive a new agreement which increased his rent from £2,500 a year to £7,200.

“This came out of the blue with no notice or consultation. Ever since, I have been trying to find out how a 300 per cent rent increase can be justified but no-one will give me a satisfactory explanation.

“I was prepared to pay a small increase in rent and have offered £300 a month rather than the present £215, but have heard nothing about my offer.”

Mr Reeves said he had contacted the council’s letting agents in Exeter hoping to get some explanation about the unexpectedly large increase, but had heard nothing.

“I have always been a good tenant – never missed a rent payment; looked after the property – and this is how you get treated. If this isn’t sorted, I’ll have no alternative but to go.”

A council spokesman said: “Lambert Smith Hampton [LSH] of Exeter are agents for West Somerset Council, which owns the freehold of the four units at Barns Close, Dulverton.

“The rents on these units have historically been very low and are being renegotiated by LSH to better reflect their market value.

“The council is unable to comment further on this ongoing private negotiation between the agent and the individual tenant.”