Changes to your rent- April 2022

This last year has been a difficult one for everyone and we appreciate that many of you will have been financially impacted by the pandemic. SLH has worked hard to put special measures in place to give support to those who need it most.

The health and wellbeing of our customers continues to be a prime focus for us. As such, decisions about rents and charges are made following detailed consideration of their impact.

From April 2022, South Lakes Housing will increase the rent charged for homes by 4.1% per week. This is within the maximum permitted by the Government’s Regulator for Social Housing’s rent standard. This standard allows for annual increase of the Consumer Price Index (cost of living) as at 31.9.21 which was 3.1% plus an additional 1%.

Ensuring that the rent we collect keeps pace with inflation is essential so that we can continue to keep you and our other customers safe and secure and your home in a good condition The rents charged by SLH are the lowest available for social rented homes in most of our area and remain affordable as a proportion of average incomes. Keeping rents fair and affordable is a key priority for the Association..

How is my rent spent? As a not-for-profit organisation, we re-invest all our income in the local homes and services we provide including:

Maintaining and improving our existing homes – around £9.9m will be spent on existing homes in 2022/3 including £1.3m making homes more energy efficient keeping running cost down.

Developing high quality affordable homes for those most in need. – around £ 25.8m will be spent, levering in £1.8m of Government grant to provide much needed new homes for local people

Investing in our communities and neighbourhoods – around 500k will be spent on improving the environment within neighbourhoods.

Improving digital services for our customers.

Providing a reliable responsive repairs service available 365 days a year- We face increases in the cost of delivering this programme of work this year with the cost of contractors and buying materials increasing well above inflation. We are working hard to keep costs down and ensure the rent you pay is used efficiently and delivers for our customers and communities.

If you are concerned about the rent you will be charged and would like some advice on claiming benefits or managing your money you can get in touch with our helpful Income Team.

customerservices@southlakeshousing.co.uk

0300 303 8540

 

 

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