Council rents are agreed each year, following rules set by central government and taking into account factors such as average manual wages, council property values and the number of bedrooms in your home.
You should have received your rent notice at the beginning of March, letting you know what the weekly rent for your tenancy will be from April 2024 to March 2025. There are 53 weeks in this year's rent calendar instead of the usual 52 weeks.
This year’s 7.7% per cent increase is set in line with the rent cap implemented by central government and represents an average rise of £6.91 per week.
The increase will help cover rises in inflation and ensure the council can continue to:
- maintain council homes and estates
- provide kitchen, bathroom and electrical upgrades
- build more council homes.
| Rent 2023-24 | Increase (7.7%) | Rent 2024-25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | £83.71 | £6.91 | £90.62 |
| Maximum | £139.09 | £10.71 | £149.80 |
| Minimum | £63.75 | £4.91 | £68.66 |
Previously we notified you of the rent increase and service charge increase in two separate letters. This year the increases for rent and service charge will be shown within the same letter.
53-week rent payment years
A financial year of 53 weeks occurs every five or six years, including 2024-25. This happens because a regular year has 365 days (or 366 in a leap year), which equals 52 weeks plus 1 day (or 2 days in a leap year). These extra days accumulate and create an additional week in the year. As a result, rent will be charged for 51 weeks in the next financial year. However, the two rent-free weeks in December remain unchanged.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that no extra Universal Credit will be provided to cover this additional week. Therefore, if you receive Universal Credit, you will need to pay a bit more each time to cover your rent and avoid falling into arrears.
Your monthly payment amount has already been calculated and provided in your notification letter. If you're unsure about how much to pay, please contact us at HousingIncome@Norwich.gov.uk for assistance.
Paying monthly
If you pay by Direct Debit, you don’t need to do anything, your payments will be updated automatically.
Universal Credit and Housing Benefit
If you receive Universal Credit, you will need to update your journal with the increase in rent or you won’t receive all the benefit you’re entitled to.
Find out how to update your journal here
You will be sent an action called a “To-Do” via your Universal Account account [i.e. journal]. The To-do will betitled “Update your Housing Costs”. This will ask for responses to a number of questions to establish whether your rent charge has changed
All changes need to be made once they have happened (i.e. after the rent has changed in April).
If you receive Housing Benefit, you don’t need to anything.
Concerned about money?
Many residents are feeling the effects of ongoing cuts and rising living costs.
The city council is committed to supporting those hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis – this is why next year’s budget includes proposals to retain the Council Tax Support Scheme which provides relief of up to 100 per cent of council tax bills for those who are struggling.
Free money and budgeting advice is available to all council tenants. Please complete the advice referral form if you would like to be referred to our budget and money advice service.
