Our rents are set to rise by 4.8 per cent from April 1 to help us maintain our high standard of service to residents in the face of increasing costs.
The rise is in line with the government’s agreed rent formula for social housing of one per cent above the Consumer Price Index and is still far lower than the rise in average private rent prices – which have gone up by 5.5 per cent in the 12 months to September 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The increase is due to the higher costs we face in maintaining our programme of improvements to our homes, including delivering the decent homes programme, improving the energy efficiency of our homes, tackling damp and mould and continuing to build new homes in the rural locations where they are most needed.
One of the biggest pressures we face is in meeting the need for repairs as quickly as possible because the cost of materials has risen significantly, pushing our expenditure above the rate of inflation.
Chief Executive Steve Warran says: “We don’t want to cut back the range of repairs we offer, or reduce the quality of the fixtures and fittings we install, as some other providers have chosen to do. We remain committed to maintaining high standards in all our homes.
“Our rental income allows us to be bold and ambitious in our maintenance programme and also to provide the excellent service our tenants receive from our dedicated staff.”
Our Housing Support Fund will again be available to support tenants throughout the coming year. Operations Director Belinda Eastland says: “This fund offers help, advice and financial assistance to anyone struggling with the cost of living.
“Our Tenancy Plus service is also available to provide support with benefit claims, budgeting and a wide range of tenancy issues. If anyone is finding it difficult to pay their rent, please contact our Operations Team as soon as possible. We are here to help and will work with you to find the best way forward.”