Paying My Rent

 

How much will my rent go up and when?

Rents will increase by Consumer Price Index (CPI) +1%. You will receive a personal outline of how much your rent will increase. This figure will apply from the first Monday in April, which is 6 April 2026. Inflation is currently lower than it has been in previous years and the rent increase from April 2026 has been capped at 4.8%. 

We have not made this decision lightly, the increase in the cost of living is affecting everyone however it's important that we’re able to continue with resident services, home improvements and maintenance as required.

 

What do I do if I can’t afford the increase?

We know you might be concerned or unhappy about the proposed rent increase, however allowing rent arrears to build up on your account could mean you end up in more debt, making life more difficult.

If you find it difficult to pay your rent you should seek advice from our Welfare Team. This dedicated team works with our Rents Team and can help you manage your money as well as make sure you receive the right amount of benefit and support.

Our Welfare Team secure millions of pounds each year for residents, so please take advantage of this service now. You can contact them by calling 01296 732600.

Alternatively there is advice and support available from your local Citizens Advice.

 

Do you have to increase my rent?

It’s important that we can continue to provide services that are important for our residents as well as maintain and build new homes for generations to come. Your rent helps us ensure we can continue to do this as we don’t feel it is right to stop. Within our financial plan we have budgeted for the rent increase from April 2025, which means we can deliver what we’ve promised including more houses and investment in your communities and homes. We want to look after your homes and communities for future generations.

 

I pay a service charge, do the same increases apply?

Service charges may increase, but the formula (CPI+1%) will not apply. We will only set service charges in line with our policy.

We can give you a full breakdown of your service charge so you can see what it costs to look after your communal areas.

 

What will you spend the extra rental income on?

Costs have increased for everyone including us when providing services, some of the extra rental money will cover this increase in maintaining your home, delivering new homes and it will also allow us to continue investing in your communities. We share how we're performing and how rent is spent in our Annual Report to Residents which can be found on our website.

 

Will I see any benefits in my home and local community?

Absolutely. The reason we are applying the rent increase is so that you will benefit within your own home, in your wider community, and from the services we offer.

 

Will I see a higher level of service or something new for the extra money?

You will continue to benefit from our dedicated customer service which is currently over 85% year to date.

All our residents will benefit from us being able to deliver our commitments and more importantly the increase means we don’t have to cut services.

 

Can I have a breakdown of how you will spend my rent?

We give you a full breakdown of how we have spent your rent over 12 months. We do this in our Annual Report to Residents which is available on our website and in our Winter edition of Resident News. 

 

I claim Universal Credit (UC), will I have to reapply and will this result in a delay in my rent being paid?

You don’t have to complete a brand new claim with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), simply tell them, via your ‘to do list’ on the DWP portal what the new amount will be. We will confirm the increase with them (via the landlord portal).

 

What if UC doesn’t cover the rent increase?

If your UC allowance doesn’t cover the additional rent, we recommend that you contact our Universal Credit Officer on 01296 732600.

 

I don’t claim benefits, do I have to adjust my Direct Debit (DD) mandate with my bank or will this happen automatically?

Don’t worry your DD will be automatically changed by our team – you don’t have to do anything.

 

I pay my rent by standing order, do I have to change this with my bank?

If you pay by standing order, you will need to change your payment to reflect the new rent amount. Please call your bank to advise them of the new amount or change your standing order on your online banking.

If you have any further questions or want to talk to someone, please contact us on 01296 732600 or email contact@fairhive.co.uk.