Rent and service charges 2024

Rent increases will happen right across the social housing sector as landlords raise rents in line with the government standard. To find out more about the government’s rent standard, please visit the government website.

In September 2023 the Consumer price Index (CPI) was 6.7%, plus 1% results in a 7.7% increase in your rent from April. For our shared owners we base the rent increase on the Retail Price Index (RPI) which was 8.9%, plus 0.5% results in a 9.4% increase in your rent from April 2024.

We will be writing to you this week to confirm changes to your rent and/or service charge from the 1 April. Your letter will give you the exact figure.

As a social landlord, we invest rent money back into providing homes and services for local people and communities.

At the moment, the cost of doing this is high – and costs have risen substantially. Building costs, for example, have gone up 27%, and buildings insurance has increased by 20%. The volume and cost of repairs to properties has significantly increased. We have also been affected by the increase in interest rates over the last year, meaning our mortgage repayment costs have gone up. While we have – and will continue to – absorb what costs we can, we need to increase rent in line with the government formula to continue to fulfil our purpose and provide homes and services.

If you are worried about being able to pay your rent, please let us know. Our Money Advice Team can give you practical support to review your financial situation. Over the last full financial year, the team helped customers claim £1, 287,519 in welfare benefits, and provided over 100 homes with financial support to manage fuel and household costs. You can contact them by calling 0330 100 0272 or email us at info@bpha.org.uk.

Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs.

Visit the Universal Credit website to help you understand what Universal Credit means for you.

If you want to go straight to making a claim for Universal Credit visit gov.uk/universal-credit

We’ve created a step-by-step guide showing you what to do
and where to click in regards to Universal Credit.

Confirm your housing costs’ will be added as to-do to tenants’ online accounts on:

1 April 2024 for those that pay rent both weekly and monthly