RENT
SETTING
RENT SETTING Like the cost of all things, your rent will increase from time to time to keep up with inflation. How we set your rent is carefully controlled by the Government. The Government Rent Restructuring Policy was introduced on 1st April 2002.
PAYING YOUR RENT Paying your rent is an essential part of your tenancy agreement, if you do not pay your rent you risk losing your home. If you are experiencing difficulty paying your rent you should contact your Neighbourhood Officer without delay.
WHAT YOUR RENT PAYS FOR It states Housing Associations and Local Authorities must all follow the same formula for setting rents, so that by 2012 different landlords operating in the same areas will charge similar rents for similar homes. Income from rents pays for the costs of managing and repairing our homes and the paying back of loans. The rents charged by SLH are designed to be affordable for those on low incomes while being sufficient to cover the cost of providing our housing management service on a non profit basis.
RENT CHARGES FOR TARGET RENTS Rents for Assured Tenancies are known as target rents. These rents are set by SLH under the Government Rent Restructuring Policy. Target rents are based on:
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Property Value Local earnings Property size and condition Location
Rent restructuring is the process by which the rent for a property will reach its target rent over ten years starting from April 2002. A target rent is reviewed annually on the first Monday in April. Once the new target rent is set, SLH sends out a notice of increase a month before the new rent is due. When the target rent is achieved for the property then future rents will only be increased by the Retail Price Index (RPI). This is a figure set by the government - it calculates the rate of inflation based on the costs on thousands of different products.
Q
I am an SLH Assured Tenant and do not agree with the rent I am charged, what can I do?
If you disagree with the target rent set you should contact the Northern Rent Assessment Panel at the address on the right. Northern Rent Assessment Panel 20th Floor City Tower Piccadilly Plaza Manchester M1 4BE
The committee will compare your rent with the market rents paid in the area for similar properties. If the committee decides that your rent is too high it will tell SLH to reduce your rent to market value.
Q
I do not agree with the rent set and I am going through the appeal process, should I stop paying my rent?
No, you should never stop paying your rent. Paying your rent is an essential part of your Tenancy Agreement and, by not doing so, you could risk losing your home. If you are appealing against the rent you are charged, you should maintain your payments and await the outcome of the appeal.
Q
Do SLH tell me if they are going to increase my rent?
Rent increases will normally be effective from the first Monday in April each year. One month before your rent is due to be increased, SLH will notify you in writing what your rent increase will be.
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your questions
When my rent increases what do I do?
If you receive Housing Benefit, you must take a copy of your rent increase letter to your local Housing Benefit Office as proof that your rent is due to increase. When you do this you must obtain a receipt and pass this to your Neighbourhood Officer as confirmation that the benefit office has been informed of the change in your rent. You should do this before your rent is due to increase.
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If you pay your own rent using a Rent Card you must increase your payments in line with the rent increase from the date it takes effect from. If you pay by Standing Order you must contact your Bank to increase your payments. Tenants who pay by Direct Debit will automatically have their payments increased by SLH, as you can see, from your point of view, this is the easiest option.
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When you initially set up a Direct Debit, by signing a Direct Debit instruction, you will be entered into a quarterly Prize Draw to win £50.
Head Office Parklands Conleach Road Speke, Liverpool L24 0TY
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you would like more information on Rent Setting, or have any comments you would care to make, please contact the SLH office.
Tel: (0151) 285 5600 Fax: (0151) 285 5679 Opening Times:
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (Weds 9am-1pm)
On-line
Web: www.slhgroup.co.uk Email: info@slhgroup.co.uk
FREEPHONE REPAIR LINE
0800 0731 760
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