Agenda item

(a)  Council house dwelling rents for 2021/22 to increase by 1.5% (CPI + 1%) over the 2020/21 rent with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This is in line with current government guidelines and legislation.

(b)  Garage rents, heating, utility and ancillary charges to increase by 0.5% with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This is based upon the September CPI figure.

(c)  Service charges to increase by 0.5% with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This is based upon the September CPI figure.

(d)  ‘Other committee’  property rents (i.e. properties in the ownership of other council departments but let to tenants and managed by the Housing Revenue Account on their behalf) to increase by 0.5% from Monday 5th April 2021.  This is based on the September CPI figure.

(e)  Properties leased from James Elliman Homes  to increase by 1.5% (CPI + 1%) from Monday 5th April 2021 in line with the September CPI figure.

(f)  DISH  (Development Initiative Slough Housing) property rents are recommended to increase by 1.5% (CPI + 1%) over the 2020/21 rent, and service charges to increase by 0.5% both with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This is as per the Council’s recommendation to the DISH Board.

A report was considered that proposed changes to housing rent and service charges for 2021/22.

The proposals had been developed in line with the new Rent Standard introduced from April 2020 by the Regulator of Social Housing.  For the five years from 2020/21 the setting of rent increases for HRA social and affordable rent properties was capped at CPI + 1%.  It was noted that this followed a four year period of rent reductions.   

The proposed rents had been considered by the Neighbourhoods & Community Services Scrutiny Panel on 6^th January 2021.  No comments had been referred to Cabinet.

After due consideration the Cabinet agreed to the rents and service charges as set out in the report.

Resolved –

(a)  That Council house dwelling rents for 2021/22 to increase by 1.5% (CPI + 1%) over the 2020/21 rent with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This was in line with current government guidelines and legislation.

(b)  That Garage rents, heating, utility and ancillary charges to increase by 0.5% with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This was based upon the September CPI figure.

(c)  That Service charges increase by 0.5% with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This was based upon the September CPI figure.

(d)  That ‘Other committee’ property rents (i.e. properties in the ownership of other council departments but let to tenants and managed by the Housing Revenue Account on their behalf) increase by 0.5% from Monday 5th April 2021.  This was based on the September CPI figure.

(e)  That Properties leased from James Elliman Homes increase by 1.5% (CPI + 1%) from Monday 5th April 2021 in line with the September CPI figure.

(f)  That DISH (Development Initiative Slough Housing) property rents are recommended to increase by 1.5% (CPI + 1%) over the 2020/21 rent, and service charges to increase by 0.5% both with effect from Monday 5th April 2021. This was as per the Council’s recommendation to the DISH Board.