Agenda item

*RESOLVED –

1.    That, for 2022/23, individual social rents be set based on the current National Social Rent Policy, giving a rent increase of 4.1% with effect from 4 April 2022.

2.    That, for 2022/23 and onwards, where a social rent property is re-let to a new or transferring tenant the rent level be increased to the target rent for that property.

3.    That, for 2022/23, individual affordable rents be set based on the current National Social Rent Policy giving a rent increase of 4.1% with effect from 4 April 2022.

4.    That, for 2022/23 and onwards, where an affordable rent property is re-let to a new or transferring tenant the rent level be set by reference to 80% of the market rent (including service charges where applicable) for a similar property at the time of letting or the formula rent for the property, whichever is the greater.

5.    That the Housing Revenue Account service charges for 2022/23 be increased as set out in Appendix A of the officer’s report.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

1.    To enable the council to set the level of council house rents in accordance with Government guidelines and the Rent Standard.

2.    To enable the council to set service charges for 2022/23 and ensure the cost of delivering services continues to break even.

3.    To contribute to the council’s corporate priority ‘to improve the quality of life for local people’.

The Housing Strategy and Enabling Manager presented a report recommending for approval the rent and service charge levels for the council’s housing stock for the coming financial year 2022/23.

It was proposed to increase council house rents in accordance with the Government’s National Social Rent Policy, which came into effect on 1 April, 2020. This would mean rents would increase by CPI plus 1% which equated to a 4.1% increase in 2022/23. The cost of an average social rent in 2022/23 would rise to £82.78 per week and an average affordable rent to £102.27 per week.

A detailed summary of the proposed service charge levels for 2022/23 was attached at Appendix A of the officer’s report. It was noted that these charges were set at a level to ensure that they covered the costs of providing the services.

*RESOLVED –

1.    That, for 2022/23, individual social rents be set based on the current National Social Rent Policy, giving a rent increase of 4.1% with effect from 4 April 2022.

2.    That, for 2022/23 and onwards, where a social rent property is re-let to a new or transferring tenant the rent level be increased to the target rent for that property.

3.    That, for 2022/23, individual affordable rents be set based on the current National Social Rent Policy giving a rent increase of 4.1% with effect from 4 April 2022.

4.    That, for 2022/23 and onwards, where an affordable rent property is re-let to a new or transferring tenant the rent level be set by reference to 80% of the market rent (including service charges where applicable) for a similar property at the time of letting or the formula rent for the property, whichever is the greater.

5.    That the Housing Revenue Account service charges for 2022/23 be increased as set out in Appendix A of the officer’s report.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

1.    To enable the council to set the level of council house rents in accordance with Government guidelines and the Rent Standard.

2.    To enable the council to set service charges for 2022/23 and ensure the cost of delivering services continues to break even.

3.    To contribute to the council’s corporate priority ‘to improve the quality of life for local people’.