Pennine Housing 2007/08 Rent Increase

Amanda Garrard attend the February Federation meeting to explain the 2007/08 rent increases.

Calculating the rent increase

The amount Pennine increases its rent by is now determined by the Government's national rent setting policy, which applies to all Housing Associations and Councils. It is the Government's intention that by 2012 it shouldn't matter whether you are a tenant with a Housing Association or the Council, your rent will be calculated in the same way - this is called Rent Convergence and every property will have a target rent.

Most Pennine rents are currently below the Government's target rent, this means that each annual rent increase will have to carefully calculated to ensure that they reach the 2012 target. This is made more difficult because of the need to converge new and existing tenants rent levels and also to continue to meet the targets in the 30 year business plan.

Support Charges

Amanda explained that Support Charges were paid by tenants living in Sheltered Housing. She further explained that the charges had not been altered since 2003 but that during a recent Supporting People inspection carried out independently by the Council it had been recommended that Pennine review the charges; reducing the higher charge but increasing the lower charge. Amanda explained that the vast majority of Sheltered tenants receive Supporting People grant so the impact of the changes would be minimal.

Garage Rents

Amanda explained that Pennine was spending more on garages that they were receiving in income - currently spending £270,000 annually but only charging £190,000 in rent. She pointed out that a high proportion of the people who rent garage were not Pennine tenants and therefore the cost of providing garages was being subsidised by Pennine tenants. The new rents are set out in the table below:

Feedback from the Working Groups

Big Picture Working Group - Ruth Rider

Ruth and Richard Guillot recently attended the launch of the Council's Housing Strategy. Ruth has outlined the Council's housing priorities until 2010:

1. Affordability, availability and choice

Increase the supply and range of housing stock
Implement choice based lettings
Improve monitoring and keeping up to date all housing markets.

2. Condition and sustainability of existing stock

Develop investment plan to improve houses and increase energy efficiency. Encourage landlords to maintain and secure funding for this.

3. Link housing plans to regeneration agenda

Convert local mills and commercial buildings to residential use to help maintain local employment. Make use of powers available to ensure all houses are inhabited.

4. Preventing homelessness and helping the homeless

Helping homeless people to find and keep suitable homes and help them to access health services.

5. Promoting community safety

To reduce anti-social behaviour and to find ways to prevent this before it gets out of hand. To help prevent domestic violence and provide support when it occurs.

6. Safety and energy efficiency in homes

Help to take advantage of grant funding to improve efficiency of heating in homes; 17% of Calderdale residents have fuel poverty. To raise awareness of safety in the home by working with police, fire departments and others.

The Big Picture Working Group will be meeting with Mark Thompson, Head of Housing, Calderdale MBC on the 12^th March and will report back on the outcome the meeting to the next full federation meeting.