Cabinet to consider increased Housing Management Service Budget for 2024-25

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet will consider approving the proposed Housing Management Service budget and proposed rent increases for tenants of Council owned properties for recommendation to a meeting of full Council.

The proposed increase is critical to being able to meet the needs of Council tenants and continue to invest in their homes to ensure that residents live in decent neighbourhoods and homes. The budget supports investment in ensuring homes meet the Decent Homes Standard and improving the energy performance of housing, which reduces energy costs for tenants, helps to tackle fuel poverty and meet the Council’s ambitions of achieving net zero by 2045 to tackle the climate emergency.

The increase will also ensure that there is sufficient funding to meet increased landlord responsibilities as part of the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Regulations 2022, and the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, and to fund investment in properties to continue to address issues of damp and mould.

To meet these requirements, rent on Council owned properties will increase in line with the current Government guidelines of 7.7% from April 2024. This means that the average weekly rent of the Council’s social housing will increase from £91.88 per week to £98.95 per week. The average weekly rent of the Council’s affordable housing (charged at up to 80% of market rent) will increase from £118.35 per week to £127.47 per week. Tenants will be contacted about their rent by letter.

Rent on garages and the cost of Lifeline personal emergency alarm services will increase in line with the current Government guidelines of 7.7% from April 2024. The average cost of rent on garages will increase from £6.66 to £7.17 per week. The cost of Lifeline personal emergency alarm services for Council tenants will increase from £2.73 to £2.94 per week, and from £3.42 to £3.68 for private residents.

There will also be an increase to the landlord’s management charge for leaseholders of 7.3% reflecting increased costs to the Council due to inflation. There will also be an increase in shared ownership lease rents of 7.2%.

Council tenants’ rents are ring-fenced to pay for all services, repairs, maintenance and improvements to Council homes. The Council’s housing stock has been managed by ForHousing since 2017, and since then a total of £28 million has been spent on improving Council housing. This includes new boiler installations, roof replacements, kitchen and bathroom refurbishments, installing new double glazed UPVC window and doors and electrical rewiring upgrades.

Cllr Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, said:

“The Council is facing financial pressures but is continuing to prioritise investment in social housing for the wellbeing of our residents. The Together with Tenants Charter, which we developed alongside residents, makes a number of commitments to residents to ensure that they receive a high standard of service and live in safe, well-maintained houses in vibrant communities. Our 30-year investment plan was agreed in October 2019, and funded from rental income. This includes a significant £159 million investment programme which will improve lives for tenants, and ensure the quality of homes and neighbourhoods are maintained and further enhanced, including the energy efficiency of the homes.

“We very much appreciate the pressures of a rent increase for tenants on the cost of living, and encourage anybody who is struggling to make use of the support on offer from the Council and ForHousing. A rent increase is necessary to ensure the Council can continue to maintain and improve the homes and neighbourhoods of tenants, some of whom are amongst the most disadvantaged in our communities. Reducing fuel costs, ensuring good quality and affordable homes, and improving the areas where people live is vital to support residents’ wellbeing.”

To find out more about the commitments Cheshire West and Chester Council and ForHousing make to residents, visit the Council website to view the Together with Tenants Charter:

Together with Tenants Charter | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Support from Cheshire West and Chester Council and ForHousing is available to help and support tenants financially. The Council can help with advice on benefits, assistance with council tax, household support funds, free school meals, assistance with fuel and water, and more. Visit the Council website for more information:

Benefits and welfare help | Cheshire West and Chester Council

ForHousing can offer support including budgeting skills, debt advice, support applying for benefits and saving on utility bills, applying for basic bank accounts, and wellbeing support. For more information visit:

How Can We Help - Cheshire West and Chester (forhousing.co.uk)