Annual rent and service charge changes from April 2021

March 1, 2021
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From 1st April 2021, we will be applying rent and service charge increases.  

What do customers need to do?

Customers will receive a letter week commencing 22nd February detailing what their rent and any service charges will be from the 1st April and what they need to do.  

As a customer, what you need to do depends on how you pay or the type of benefits you receive: 

 

How you pay/Type of benefit you receive  What to do
 

Housing Element of Universal Credit (UC)

 

  

  • Notify the DWP of the change to your rent through your Universal Credit Journal.
  • Do this between 12th – 16th March 2021 so new payments are changed at the right time.

 
 

Housing Benefit

 

  

  • If your Housing Benefit is paid directly to us, we will let your local authority know for you.
  • Notify your local authority if your financial circumstances change to make sure you’re receiving the right amount.

 
 

Standing order

 

  

  • Change your payment amount with your bank.

 
 

Direct Debit

 

  

  • We’ll make the changes for you; you don’t need to do anything.

 

 

Struggling to pay rent? We’re here to help.

If you are a customer having difficulty paying your rent or charges, please give us a call on 0151 290 7000.

We can help you get your finances back on track, offering everything from benefits and budgeting advice to wellbeing and employment support.

 

Rent payment changes explained

We review the rent customers pay each year and we follow the Regulator of Social Housing’s framework to set rents in line with Government policy. 

The amount customers pay will also depend on the type of tenancy/lease agreement they have with us. Rent paid will comply with the terms on which their property was let to them. 

 

Service charge explained

Some customers pay service charges for the property they live in. These services are provided to their home and shared with other properties or, in some cases, it is personal to them.

Examples of these services include grounds maintenance, window cleaning, CCTV monitoring, fire safety equipment and lift maintenance.

Service charges paid by customers will depend on where they live and the services they receive, and this will be stated in their tenancy/lease agreement. We do not make a profit on service charge costs.