Issue - meetings

Housing Rents and Housing Services Charges 2019/20

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Additional documents:

Webcast for Housing Rents and Housing Services Charges 2019/20

Decision:

It was resolved –

• To approve a rent increase in line with the Welsh Government target rent based on collection over 52 weeks.

• That all rents below target of between £0.01 - £4.19 be increased by 2.4% plus an amount up to the maximum of £2.00 per week to bring to target rent towards convergence.

• That all rents below target rent of between £3.58 - £4.66 be increased by 2.4% plus £2.00 per week.

• That the rent for the 14 properties that are above target rent should remain at their current levels.

• That the rent of all garages be increased by 20p per week.

• That the service charges costs set out in section 3.3 of the report be applied to all tenants who receive the relevant services.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Housing Services seeking the Executive’s approval for increases in rent and service charges for 2018/19 was presented for consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Supporting Communities reported that Welsh Government in a letter dated December, 2018 confirmed that it had agreed to maintain the Welsh Government Policy for Social Housing Rents for 2019/20 only pending the outcome of the Affordable Housing Supply Review. The review is considering the need to introduce a revised rent policy which gives certainty to local authorities and registered social landlords and balances the need for continued development with affordability for tenants. The Panel is due to report its findings in April, 2019.