We aim to keep rents affordable. We use government rules alongside the cost of maintaining homes to set your rent.
We look at:
- How much your home is worth
- How big it is
- What condition it's in
- Average local earnings
- How many bedrooms it has.
How we work out changes to your rent
We follow the government’s Rent Standard. This uses inflation (Consumer Price Index, CPI) plus 1%.
In 2025, this meant rents for social and affordable rented homes increased by 2.7%
Why rents change
Last year, we spent £171 million on repairs and £200 million on major improvements. As costs go up, we may need to increase rents by the amount allowed.
We check rents every year and will write to you if your rent is changing. You'll get at least four weeks' notice.
Rents for homes not covered by the Rent Standard
Some homes aren't covered by government rent rules. These include:
- Intermediate market rent homes
- Market rent homes
- Regency (former Crown Estate) homes
We set rents for these homes using Retail Price Index (RPI) in September, plus 0.5%.
RPI in September 2024 was 2.7%, so rents for these homes will go up by 3.2% from April 2025.
For shared ownership homes, we increase rents based on your lease agreement.
| Type of rent | Increase from April 2025 |
| Social rent | 2.7% |
| Affordable rent | 2.7% |
| Market rent | 3.2% |
| Intermediate market rent | 3.2% |
| Regency (former Crown Estate) properties | 3.2% |
| Shared ownership homes | Will depend on the terms of individual leases. |
What to do if you’re struggling
We know many people are finding things tough. If you're worried about your rent, we’re here to help.
Our teams can give you advice on:
- Benefits and grants you may be able to claim
- Managing debt and budgeting
- Saving on energy and utility bills
How to pay
