Rent and Service Charges

How we use your rent and service charges

We want residents to understand how the money we receive is used to provide, maintain and improve your homes and services.

How we use your rent

The rent we receive from residents is our main source of income. We use this money to manage and maintain our homes and provide services to residents.

Our rental income helps to pay for:

  • Repairs and maintenance to residents’ homes and communal areas.
  • Major works and improvements, such as replacing kitchens, bathrooms, windows, roofs and other building components when required.
  • Building and fire safety, including essential inspections, servicing, testing and safety works.
  • Housing management services, including managing tenancies, supporting residents and dealing with anti-social behaviour.
  • Keeping homes safe and compliant through checks such as gas, electrical, asbestos, water and fire safety.
  • Managing empty homes and preparing them for new residents.
  • Staff and administration costs needed to manage our homes and deliver services.
  • Technology, insurance and other business costs needed to run the Society.
  • Investment in our existing homes to ensure they remain safe, comfortable and in good condition for the future.

Any money remaining after our costs is retained within the Society and used to support our homes and services. As a not-for-profit housing association, our income is used to support the delivery of our social housing activities.

We review your rent charge every year in line with the Rent Standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing. We will always let you know about any changes each March ready for any changes in April.

How we use your service charges

Some residents also pay a service charge in addition to their rent. Service charges pay for services provided specifically to their building, scheme or communal areas.

Depending on where you live, these may include:

  • cleaning communal areas;
  • communal lighting and electricity;
  • grounds maintenance;
  • lift servicing and maintenance;
  • door entry and security systems;
  • fire safety equipment and servicing in communal areas;
  • communal heating or water where applicable;
  • caretaking or other scheme-specific services; and
  • other costs associated with maintaining communal areas.

The services you receive will depend on your home and scheme. Not every resident receives or pays for all of these services.

We review service charges regularly and provide residents with a detailed breakdown about the charges that apply to their home.

Being open about how your money is spent

We are committed to being open and accountable about how we use residents’ money.

We publish information about our financial position, performance and services so residents can see how we are using our resources to maintain homes, keep resident’s safe and provide good-quality services.

If you would like more information on rent and service charges or if you are struggling to pay your rent please contact the Housing team.