Rent increase FAQs
Background
The Regulator for Social Housing in England announced in November 2019 that landlords will be able to raise rents by up to the consumer price index in September + 1% for the next 5 years. Due to the current cost of living pressures driving inflation to 40-year highs, the government decided to cap this year's rent increase at 7%. Without this, the rent increase could have been up to 11.1%.
We have decided to raise our rents by 7% to generate the amount of revenue required to provide new homes and maintain our existing homes and services, all of which are funded by rents.
For most customers, this is a rise of between £7 to £8 per week, or £400 a year.
Hardship
We understand that customers will be experiencing challenges around the current cost of living and that this will be another cost pressure.
To support our customers, we are offering additional advice and support including a hardship fund, for those that need additional help and are struggling financially. If you feel you would benefit from advice or support, please contact our revenue team.
Learn more about our hardship fund and apply
Read our cost of living advice handbook
Why is my rent going up?
We understand that a rent increase on top of rises in the price of things like petrol, electricity and food will add to the costs that you are facing.
Rents make up the majority of our income. The rise in rent is below the rate of inflation and without raising our rent we would be unable to deliver important services.
As a not-for-profit organisation, all the money we make is put back into the business to cover the cost of maintaining our homes and building much-needed new affordable homes. We do not have any shareholders who receive any profit from the money you pay in rent.
Do you have to put the rent up by 7%?
The government allows landlords to decide if they should raise rents by up to 7%. Silva has decided to raise rents by the maximum amount because up until 2019, we have had 4 years of reduced rent which has impacted our ability to deliver services and build new homes.
We are also facing increased costs and all of the money generated by the increase will help us to continue to provide our services and invest in new homes for those that are in need.
This is the second year that rents have risen above what they were in 2015.
My letter does not show an increase in my rent
If you live in a home that has been built since 2010, you may be being charged a rent that is a maximum of up to 80% of the rent on the open market in your area. We will not raise these rents above what is allowable to be claimed in housing benefit or universal credit. If you are one of the small number of customers whose rent has not increased, you will be in this category.
Do I have to let Housing Benefit know my rent has increased?
No, where your housing benefit is paid directly to us, we have an agreement with local authorities that we inform them of rent increases so they will already be aware.
If you have any other change of circumstances that affects your claim for housing benefit, or if the housing benefit is paid directly to you, it is your responsibility to report it.
Do I need to let Universal Credit know that my rent is increasing?
Yes, you must provide your new rent via your online journal as soon as possible after 3 April when it goes up.
Do not provide the new rent before this date as it would be acted upon immediately.
If you don’t provide your new rent figure you may not be paid enough Universal Credit to cover your rent.
Will you adjust my direct debit?
Yes, customers who pay by direct debit will have their payments adjusted by us and will be informed by letter around 15 March of the new amount they have to pay.
If you pay weekly and want to work out your monthly figure, multiply your weekly rent by 50 and divide it by 12.
I don’t understand this charge element on my increase letter
Customers may have other charges on their letters. These will be either garage charges for a garage that comes with their property or service charges for blocks of flats or services around their estate.
Service charges will have an accompanying statement that breaks down those charges. If you don’t understand these statements, please contact your customer relations partner (rent) or scheme manager. You can see the contact details of your customer relations partner (rent) by clicking the button below and using our interactive map.
Garage rents
Garage rents have increased this year in line with the agreement you have with us. Increases in rents will help to fund much-needed repairs to our garage stock and still represent good value for money in comparison with other storage or parking facilities locally.