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East Anglian housing association to limit rent increase
An East Anglia-based housing association will limit rent rises in April to less than the amount permitted by government.
Havebury Housing Partnership, which is based in Bury St Edmunds and operates across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, has announced it will raise rents by 2.2% this year.
That is below the maximum 2.7% for social housing rents allowed by the government in the latest rent settlement for the sector, after four years of 1% annual cuts.
Havebury, which manages around 6,500 homes, said the limited rent rise aims to help its tenants cope with the rising costs of food and utility bills. The new rents will take effect from 6 April.
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Andrew Smith, chief executive of Havebury, said: “As a charitable organisation, Havebury’s core value for money objective ensures we always do the best we can for our tenants when it comes to affordability.
“We appreciate that ultimately our rents are still increasing. However, the increase will ensure Havebury can invest in new and existing homes while continuing to provide good-quality services and safe accommodation to families.”
The government confirmed in February last year that social housing rents would rise by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1% for five years from this April.
The vast majority of social landlords are expected to raise rents by the full permitted amount.
Both councils and housing associations are subject to the rent standards, which do not include provision to raise historically low social rents by a higher rate.
A government consultation on the rent increase conducted in 2018 was welcomed by 86% of social landlords but rejected by 87% of tenants and tenant groups.
