Almost all of the funding for maintaining, managing, building and improving our council homes comes from the rent you pay.
Most rents are set using the national rent formula for council homes, which was introduced in 2002 and takes into account:
- The value of the property
- The number of bedrooms
- Average earnings in the area compared to national average earnings
- Inflation
From April 2016 to April 2019, council rents were decreased by 1% annually, as required by government. From April 2020, we can increase rents by inflation plus 1% annually. We discuss proposed changes to rent levels with Dudley Federation of Tenants' and Residents' Associations and with the Housing Board. Rent setting is approved annually by Cabinet in the February before the start of each financial year (at the start of April), and all tenants receive a letter by the end of February letting them know the change in rent levels.
When we make recommendations for rent increases, we will take into account the financial impact of an increase on tenants, but we will also consider the needs of the housing service to maintain, manage and improve our homes, and to be able to build new council homes in the future.