How your rent is set
Changes to your rent
The government produced a formula for setting rents, which considers the value of the property, the number of bedrooms within the property and the local earnings of the area.
Social rents are regulated by the government and we review them each year in accordance with any changes and guidelines from the government.
We will give you four weeks' written notice if there are any changes to your rent. Please remember, it is your responsibility to inform Universal Credit of any changes to your rent.
If you’re claiming Housing Benefit, we will automatically recalculate your entitlement.
Service charges
In addition to your rent, you may also pay a service charge depending on your accommodation. These charges cover things such as communal heating, electric, cleaning and site management services.
Service charges are shared equally between each resident in the building, based on the total cost for each service on a yearly basis. The charges are reviewed each year alongside your rental charge.
Rent-free weeks
If you are charged a social rent and your tenancy agreement says you have the benefit of rent-free weeks, if you pay weekly, as rent is charged for 48 weeks each year you will have four weeks in the year where no rent is charged.
If you are in rent arrears, we strongly advise that you pay your rent during rent-free weeks to reduce your debt. Unpaid rent arrears can lead to court action and put you at risk of losing your home, so this is a good opportunity to catch up.
2024/25 rent-free weeks
Rent-free weeks are the weeks commencing:
- 26 May 2025
- 25 August 2025
- 22 December 2025
- 30 March 2026
If you pay monthly, your 48 payments are calculated over 52 weeks. This amount includes the rent-free weeks and means you pay the same amount each month. To make sure you don’t fall into arrears, you must keep up the payments every month.
Not all of our tenants are eligible for rent-free weeks e.g. affordable rents are charged over 52 weeks. If you are not sure whether you are entitled to rent-free weeks, please contact the Income Management Team on 0300 300 8042.