"What little money we have for our enjoyment has been taken away," Mr Winsborough said.
Fellow tenants at his block of council flats in Tikipunga were considering selling their car or removing their much-loved gardens to balance the books.
From August 1, Mr Winsborough's one bedroom flat will cost $258 a fortnight, up 31.6 per cent from $196.
"Usually it goes up between $15 or $20 a fortnight but this time they've hammered us with $62," he said.
It did not leave him anything to save, which meant he would not be able to visit his daughter and grandson in Australia this year, Mr Winsborough said.
He said the increase was especially unfair as his pension had only increased by 2 per cent to $740.50 a fortnight.
Council property manager Mike Hibbert said the rent rise would go towards improving security, accessibility, heating, insulating and necessary refurbishment of the 30-year-old flats.
"The aim of this is to generally look at improving what we can at minimal costs to the tenants."
In the first year, $1.2 million would be put towards capital expenditure, he said.
Many of the upgrades were necessary as the units were not purpose built for elderly tenants.
There was consultation with the council's Positive Ageing Advisory Group, though there was no direct consultation with any tenants, Mr Hibbert said.
The new rents were in line with what was being charged by other councils around the country, he said.
Rents would be increased annually at the same time and in proportion to rises in superannuation rather than every two years, which would make it easier for tenants on low incomes.
Most tenants were receiving or would be eligible for an accommodation allowance, Mr Hibbert said, which would offset most of the cost, resulting in only $7-10 extra.
While not everyone would be eligible for the allowance, those who were not were those who were better off financially, he said.
Mr Winsborough said when he applied for the allowance five years ago he was denied but planned to apply again.
"It will help but it's still a massive rise," he said.
Fellow pensioner Sandy Stavert, 81, said he understood where the council was coming from but wanted the opportunity to put his case.
"But what annoys me is that they've dumped it on these oldies without coming to talk to us," Mr Stavert said.
Many people did not know how to apply for the allowance, he said.
"I just think they're putting a lot of oldies under a lot of pressure," Mr Stavert said. "I think they could have done it a lot better than this."
He said he hoped the publicity would force the council to sit down and talk to tenants.
"It might not get us anywhere but it would give us a chance to put our case in front of them," Mr Stavert said. "I don't think that's asking too much."
