Affordable rent
How is affordable rent set?
Rental charges are based on government guidelines. These vary for each type of rental product. The type of rent you pay is detailed in your review letter, which was posted to you mid-February.
Affordable Rent is charged weekly or monthly.
If you’ve had the same weekly tenancy for more than one year, we’ll leave at least 52 weeks between rent reviews.
If you’re within the first year of your tenancy, your initial rent review will be in April. All following reviews will be at intervals of 52 weeks or more.
Affordable Rent is set a maximum of 80% market rent, or the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), whichever is lower.
LHA is used to work out Housing Benefit and Universal Credit for tenants who rent from a landlord. LHA rates are set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) at the start of each financial year. The rate is based on the number of bedrooms you and your household need, and the rent charged for similar-sized properties in the area. The reason we cap our rents at the LHA is so that if you receive Housing Benefits and Universal Credit, your full rent could be covered.
How is affordable rent reviewed?
The government has introduced a new social housing rent policy, which is called the Rent Standard 2026, that sets a formula that will be used for ten years from April 2026 to calculate rent.
The formula uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the previous September plus 1%. The CPI is a specific measurement of inflation – it measures the average change in prices of goods and services bought by most households in the UK. So, although the CPI may change from year to year, the 1% cap will not change for the next decade.
Your new rent as of April 2026 has been increased by the September 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI), which was 3.8%, plus 1%, resulting in a 4.8% increase in your rent. Your rent total includes any services that you receive.
We will increase your rent in line with the formula above - unless your rent is at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) limit. If this is the case, your rent will not be increased.
Ways to pay
There are lots of ways to pay your rent and service charge, so that making any payment to bpha can be as convenient and flexible for you as possible.
A frequently asked question to our Customer Communications Centre is what the options are to pay rent or service charges, click the button below for a quick guide.
Can I get help with my housing costs?
If you are on a low income, you could be entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to help pay your rent.
If you are of pensionable age or living in supported housing, then you could qualify for assistance from your local authority with some Housing Benefit.
If you are of working age you may be entitled to claim some Universal Credit to assist with your rent.
How much you receive will depend on your circumstances and current income.
You can apply for Housing Benefit/Universal Credit whether you are working or unemployed.
If your benefits are paid directly to you, you are responsible for paying your rent to us.
If your Housing Benefit or Universal Credit is cut, it is your responsibility to cover any shortfall. Please be aware that you are in danger of losing your home if your account is in arrears.
If you need any information about benefits, or help applying, please contact our Money Advice Team who will be able to help.
Are you worried about paying?
Do you have more questions?
Find more frequently asked questions by clicking the button below.
Why does my rent statement no longer include a breakdown of costs?
As an affordable or below market rent customer, you pay a set cost that covers your rent and any services that you receive, for example, communal cleaning (where applicable). For clarity and to avoid confusion, your rent statement now mirrors your tenancy agreement and rent notice letter: each shows the total amount of rent that you pay.
