Salford’s social housing tenants will see rent rise by up to £20 monthly. The council’s decision aims to address rising costs and maintain essential services for residents.
Salford: Social housing tenants are in for a bit of a shock. The council just approved a rent hike that could add up to £20 a month to their bills.
Mayor Paul Dennett and the council’s team decided to raise Pendleton Together rents by four percent. This means some folks will see an extra £5 a week, including service charges.
The new rates will vary depending on where you live. For instance, Hornbeam Court will see a £5.21 weekly increase, while Spruce Court will only go up by £1.29.
This change is expected to bring in an extra £2.3 million for the council. They need it to keep up with the growing demand for services in the city.
Interestingly, some tenants in high-rise blocks will actually see their service charges drop. This is due to changes in energy costs and switching energy providers.
Mr. Dennett mentioned that new building regulations and fire safety standards are putting financial pressure on social housing providers. He understands that any rent increase is tough for tenants, especially with the rising cost of living.
He added that they’re not just thinking about the immediate impact. They want to ensure they can keep providing quality housing and services in the future.
If they had frozen rent prices, Salford would have faced a nearly £4 million deficit. The council has to balance its housing revenue account and doesn’t get extra funding for new regulations.
There are also higher rents at the Duchy Caravan Park, with average pitch fees rising to over £81 from £79 last year.
However, Mr. Dennett reassured everyone that the rent increases will stay within the Local Housing Allowance rates. This is what’s used to calculate Housing Benefit for tenants.
He also mentioned that service charges are transparent and fair. Tenants will only pay for the actual services they receive.
Last year, social rents went up too, despite complaints about ongoing work at Thorn and Spruce Court. Residents have had to deal with a lot of noise while the council works on fire safety measures.
To help tenants facing these rent hikes, the council has set up a hardship fund of £25,000 a year for Pendleton Together tenants. They’re also providing a £7,400 subsidy for residents at Lombardy Court, who are struggling with higher gas prices.
Salford’s winter support payment scheme has already given out over £430,000 to help eligible households with essential costs.
Plus, the BetterOff in Salford service is available for residents needing help with benefits, employment, debt advice, and more.
