Rent Setting Survey 2023 - 24

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Brief

Every year, all social housing landlords carry out a review of their housing rents in accordance with the policy set by Welsh Government on Rent Setting and Service Charge Standard across Wales. There are specific things that we have to consider in reviewing your rents that include balancing the need to maintain and improve your homes with ensuring that rents remain affordable for you, as tenants.

Welsh Government has also set all Councils and Housing Associations in Wales ambitious targets in relation to the following priorities:

  • Making your homes more energy efficient.
  • Maintaining the Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS) in all homes together with introducing higher standards under a revised WHQS 2023.
  • Building more social housing which is near to or at net zero carbon emissions.
  • Increasing support to tenants in order to sustain tenancies and reduce homelessness.
  • Reduction / Eradicating Homelessness.

These priorities are set out in our Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, which is available to view on the Pembrokeshire County Council website.

This year, the Welsh Minister has announced, that from April 2023, the maximum limit (cap) which social rents can charge will be 6.5% - an increase well below the rate of inflation. This is the maximum increase any landlord can charge across all of their properties and is not a requirement or a target.

On 15th December 2022, the decision was made by Council to increase Pembrokeshire County Council standard rent by 5.2% plus a maximum of £2 per week for individual rents below Standard Rent.

When setting rents we must take into consideration the need to comply with the Welsh Governments’ rent policy standards as well as ensuring our rents remain comparable with those charged by other Local Authorities and Housing Associations.

As a Local Authority, our average rents are considerably lower than Housing Association rents within Pembrokeshire, and other Local Authorities across Wales. As it stands Pembrokeshire County Council average weekly rent over 48 weeks is £91.79 compared to the Welsh average weekly rent of £101.00.

We have seen the costs of maintenance/repairs and other charges associated with delivering the service continue to increase, with the cost of materials rising by as much as 30% in some cases. We therefore have to balance keeping rent levels affordable with covering the costs of the service. This means that increases in rent levels is inevitable to keep up with inflation.

It is important to note that all income raised by Council Rents is spent on providing landlord services, building new Council Housing and upgrading existing properties.

This year, we intend to prioritise and invest in the following:

  • Build on the support provided to tenants, by increasing the numbers of Financial Support and Collection staff able to reach out to tenants. Focussing on

early engagement with those struggling to pay their rent or in arrears.

  • Maximise availability of Welsh Government grant funding aimed at tackling financial hardship and benefits maximisation.

  • Establish a targeted Financial Hardship Fund for utilisation in emergency situations for our tenants.

  • Continue with our programme of investment in our housing stock to ensure they are safe, warm and affordable.

  • Continue with our new council housing development programme whereby over the next 5 years, 400 new PCC social houses will be built.

We know that rent increases are not popular and that the last few years have resulted in emotional and financial strains being placed on so many during the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise in cost of living. It is essential that we continue to maintain and invest in your homes for now and for future generations. If you are a tenant who is struggling to pay your rent, please get in touch with us so that we can chat to you about what support we can provide you.

Value for Money

The average Pembrokeshire County Council rent for 2021-2022, is £91.79 a week (over 48 weeks)

The majority of the rent you pay goes towards the housing services we are able to provide.

Supervision and Housing Management - 20% - The management of properties including, allocations, rent collection and all support services.

Building Repairs and Maintenance - 41%- All programmed improvement work and day to day repairs Inc. boiler maintenance.

Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) and Decarbonisation -19% - Work to improve the quality of your home, in particular measures to improve energy efficiency making your home warmer and cheaper to run, whilst cutting carbon emissions. Works may include insulation, installing solar panels and heat source pumps where appropriate. These standards are set by Welsh Government for all social housing landlords to meet, they form part of the revised Wales Housing Quality Standard.

New Build Programme and Acquisitions - 20% - Supplemented by grants, and based on income from rents we are able to borrow money to build more homes and purchase existing properties from the open market to increase our social housing stock. In the year 2022/2023 we are projected to spend in excess of £11 million on this programme.

Your views and opinions are important to us. We would appreciate your time filling out the enclosed survey.

If you require assistance filling in this survey, please contact the Housing Customer Liaison Team on the phone number or email address below, and one of our team will happily provide assistance over the telephone.

(T) 07435780925 (E) housingCLO@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

The deadline date for all survey responses is: 15/02/2023

Brief

Every year, all social housing landlords carry out a review of their housing rents in accordance with the policy set by Welsh Government on Rent Setting and Service Charge Standard across Wales. There are specific things that we have to consider in reviewing your rents that include balancing the need to maintain and improve your homes with ensuring that rents remain affordable for you, as tenants.

Welsh Government has also set all Councils and Housing Associations in Wales ambitious targets in relation to the following priorities:

  • Making your homes more energy efficient.
  • Maintaining the Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS) in all homes together with introducing higher standards under a revised WHQS 2023.
  • Building more social housing which is near to or at net zero carbon emissions.
  • Increasing support to tenants in order to sustain tenancies and reduce homelessness.
  • Reduction / Eradicating Homelessness.

These priorities are set out in our Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, which is available to view on the Pembrokeshire County Council website.

This year, the Welsh Minister has announced, that from April 2023, the maximum limit (cap) which social rents can charge will be 6.5% - an increase well below the rate of inflation. This is the maximum increase any landlord can charge across all of their properties and is not a requirement or a target.

On 15th December 2022, the decision was made by Council to increase Pembrokeshire County Council standard rent by 5.2% plus a maximum of £2 per week for individual rents below Standard Rent.

When setting rents we must take into consideration the need to comply with the Welsh Governments’ rent policy standards as well as ensuring our rents remain comparable with those charged by other Local Authorities and Housing Associations.

As a Local Authority, our average rents are considerably lower than Housing Association rents within Pembrokeshire, and other Local Authorities across Wales. As it stands Pembrokeshire County Council average weekly rent over 48 weeks is £91.79 compared to the Welsh average weekly rent of £101.00.

We have seen the costs of maintenance/repairs and other charges associated with delivering the service continue to increase, with the cost of materials rising by as much as 30% in some cases. We therefore have to balance keeping rent levels affordable with covering the costs of the service. This means that increases in rent levels is inevitable to keep up with inflation.

It is important to note that all income raised by Council Rents is spent on providing landlord services, building new Council Housing and upgrading existing properties.

This year, we intend to prioritise and invest in the following:

  • Build on the support provided to tenants, by increasing the numbers of Financial Support and Collection staff able to reach out to tenants. Focussing on

early engagement with those struggling to pay their rent or in arrears.

  • Maximise availability of Welsh Government grant funding aimed at tackling financial hardship and benefits maximisation.

  • Establish a targeted Financial Hardship Fund for utilisation in emergency situations for our tenants.

  • Continue with our programme of investment in our housing stock to ensure they are safe, warm and affordable.

  • Continue with our new council housing development programme whereby over the next 5 years, 400 new PCC social houses will be built.

We know that rent increases are not popular and that the last few years have resulted in emotional and financial strains being placed on so many during the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise in cost of living. It is essential that we continue to maintain and invest in your homes for now and for future generations. If you are a tenant who is struggling to pay your rent, please get in touch with us so that we can chat to you about what support we can provide you.

Value for Money

The average Pembrokeshire County Council rent for 2021-2022, is £91.79 a week (over 48 weeks)

The majority of the rent you pay goes towards the housing services we are able to provide.

Supervision and Housing Management - 20% - The management of properties including, allocations, rent collection and all support services.

Building Repairs and Maintenance - 41%- All programmed improvement work and day to day repairs Inc. boiler maintenance.

Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) and Decarbonisation -19% - Work to improve the quality of your home, in particular measures to improve energy efficiency making your home warmer and cheaper to run, whilst cutting carbon emissions. Works may include insulation, installing solar panels and heat source pumps where appropriate. These standards are set by Welsh Government for all social housing landlords to meet, they form part of the revised Wales Housing Quality Standard.

New Build Programme and Acquisitions - 20% - Supplemented by grants, and based on income from rents we are able to borrow money to build more homes and purchase existing properties from the open market to increase our social housing stock. In the year 2022/2023 we are projected to spend in excess of £11 million on this programme.

Your views and opinions are important to us. We would appreciate your time filling out the enclosed survey.

If you require assistance filling in this survey, please contact the Housing Customer Liaison Team on the phone number or email address below, and one of our team will happily provide assistance over the telephone.

(T) 07435780925 (E) housingCLO@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

The deadline date for all survey responses is: 15/02/2023

Page published: 16 Feb 2023, 01:26 PM