FAQs

Rent Increases, Why some residents pay different amounts

We know it can feel confusing when neighbours pay slightly different rents. Here’s a simple explanation of why this can happen:

• All social rents increase by the same percentage each year, set by Government (currently CPI + 1%).
• The amount you pay depends on when your tenancy started. Starting rents are set using the Government’s national rent formula and the rules in place at that time.
• Rules have changed over the years. For example, between 2016 and 2020 rents were reduced by 1% each year. This means homes let at different times may have different starting points.
• Property differences matter. The size of your home and historic calculations also affect the starting rent.
• When a home is re-let, the rent may be adjusted, sometimes bringing it closer to the national formula level.

Because yearly rent increases are percentage-based, the increase is added to each person’s original starting rent. This means the weekly amount may differ, even if the percentage increase is the same for everyone.