1. How much is my rent increasing by and when?

Your rent will be increasing from 3 April 2023. Rent increases vary depending on the local market where you live. The letter you’ve received from us tells you how much your rent will be increasing by.

2. Why are rents increasing?

The decision to increase rents has been a really difficult one, particularly with the rising cost of living. We need to balance this increase with the rising costs of maintaining homes and providing quality services.

We reinvest profits back into social housing landlord ForHousing, supporting them to have a positive impact and make a real difference to people living in their 24,000 homes. The economic value generated from the rent you pay ForLiving is invested back into communities delivering social value.

Without the rent increase, ForHousing would have to significantly scale back or slow down their plans to maintain and improve homes and services.

3. How is my rent increase calculated?

We carry out an annual independent valuation to assess local and regional rent increases. Your rent increase is based on the valuation of the local market where you live.

4. What do I need to do if my rent is increasing?

This depends on how you pay your rent:

• Direct debit

Your payment will change automatically and you do not need to do anything.

• Standing order

You will need to contact your bank and change your standing order to the new rent amount from 3 April.

• Phone, allpay or any other method

You will need to change the amount of rent you pay from 3 April.

• In receipt of Housing Benefit

You do not need to do anything as we’ve informed the Housing Benefit department of the increase. It’s important that you check your new Housing Benefit award letter that you receive in April to make sure the amount is correct.

• In receipt of Universal Credit

You must notify the Department for Work and Pensions of your rent increase on Monday 3 April through your online journal. It’s important to note that you can’t notify them of the rent change earlier than this date.

5. What happens if I’m unable to pay the new rent?

We’ll do all we can to support you and want to work with you to understand any difficulties you may have in paying your rent or if you’re struggling with the rising cost of living. If you have concerns then please contact us at hello@for-living.com, speak to us on LiveChat at www.for-living.com or call us on 0300 123 5522.

6. What support can I access if I’m struggling financially?

Our team can help you if you have any questions about Universal Credit or Housing Benefit and make sure you’re receiving any other financial assistance you might be entitled to.

Our LiveWell fund is also available to support you if you have a short-term need that you can’t afford. It’s quick and easy for you to apply online using the simple web form.

There’s also lots of additional support that you can access via the ForHousing website – from accessing local food banks to how to contact Citizens Advice.

7. What should I do if I believe that my rent has been calculated incorrectly?

Please contact our team for any queries at hello@for-living.com, speak to us on LiveChat at www.for-living.com or call us on 0300 123 5522.

1. How much are rents increasing by and when?

Your rent will be increasing by 7% from 3 April 2023.

In addition, service charges will also be increasing by 7% from 3 April 2023.

2. Why are rents increasing?

The decision to increase rents has been a really difficult one, particularly with the rising cost of living. We need to balance this increase with the rising costs of maintaining homes and providing quality services. Without the rent increase, we would have to significantly scale back or slow down plans to maintain and improve homes and services.

3. What’s the difference between the rent increase and service charges? Do all tenants need to pay both?

In addition to the rent increase, you may have an increase in service charges if you pay these. Service charges are charges for extra services like heating and lighting of communal areas, particularly if you live in a block of apartments.

Due to the increases in national energy and utility bills, along with high levels of inflation affecting all other rising costs, we have had no choice but to increase these charges. We have, however, capped the increase at 7% in line with the rent increase cap.

Some service charges are Housing Benefit-eligible. For tenants who pay service charges, their letters will show clearly which charges are Housing Benefit eligible.

If you do pay a service charge then this will be clearly stated on the letter you receive from us along with the new amount to pay from 3 April.

4. How is the rent increase calculated?

We follow the Government’s guidelines on rent-setting. We work it out by taking the previous September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate, which was 10.1% in September 2022 and adding 1% to it. Because the CPI was very high last September, instead of increasing rent by 11.1%, the Government has agreed to cap the rent increase at 7% instead.

5. What is CPI?

CPI – the Consumer Price Index – is a figure used to measure inflation. It reflects how much the price of common goods and services changes over time across the UK. CPI is higher than last year because the cost of goods and services has increased more sharply than it has done in previous years. As a result of this rise in CPI, the amount rents can increase has also gone up.

6. What do I need to do if my rent and/or service charge is increasing?

This depends on how you pay your rent:

• Direct debit

Your payment will change automatically and you do not need to do anything.

• Standing order

You will need to contact your bank and change your standing order to the new rent amount from 3 April.

• Phone, allpay or any other method

You will need to change the amount of rent you pay from 3 April.

• In receipt of Housing Benefit

You do not need to do anything as we’ve informed the Housing Benefit department of the increase. It’s important that you check your new Housing Benefit award letter that you receive in April to make sure the amount is correct.

• In receipt of Universal Credit

You must notify the Department for Work and Pensions of your rent increase on Monday 3 April through your online journal. It’s important to note that you can’t notify them of the rent change earlier than this date.

7. How do we spend the rent we receive?

As a shared ownership tenant, you pay rent and / or service charges to ForHousing. This rent is reinvested so that ForHousing can provide safe, secure homes and services. Specifically:

• Continuing to invest in repairs and improvements to homes including making homes more energy-efficient
• Providing services to tenants and communities that are needed now more than ever, for example support with managing finances, helping people into training or employment, and investing in partnership projects to support communities
• Building new, affordable homes for future generations

We’ve put together a breakdown of how ForHousing spends every £100 of rent it receives which you can see below:

8. What happens if I’m unable to pay the new rent and/or service charge amount?

We want to work with you to understand any difficulties you might be having in paying your rent or if you’re struggling with the rising cost of living. If you have any concerns about paying your rent or managing your money then please complete an online enquiry form or call us on 0300 123 5522. We’ll do all we can to support you.

9. What support can I access if I’m struggling financially?

Your wellbeing is our priority and we’ll do everything we can to support you, particularly through the cost of living crisis.

ForHousing can make sure you’re receiving all the financial support you’re entitled to, including Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. They can also support with everything from contacting utility suppliers, advice on budgeting, affordable credit options or managing debt. Dedicated Money Advisors are also available to help with debt advice and solutions.

Our LiveWell fund is also available to support you if you have a short-term need that you can’t afford. It’s quick and easy for you to apply online using the simple web form.

There’s also lots of additional support that you can access via the ForHousing website – from accessing local food banks to how to contact Citizens Advice.

10. What should I do if I believe that my rent and/or service charge has been calculated incorrectly?

Please complete an online enquiry form or call 0300 123 5522.