LDS0244-1061 OTH March 2011:Layout 1
01/03/2011
16:02
Page 1
house
housing news for Winchester City Council tenants and leaseholders
Rents to rise by 6.5% The City Council has been forced to set an average rent increase of 6.5% from April 2011 due to delays in the Government introducing a new funding regime for social housing. The actual rent rise will be between £4 and £9 per week, depending on the difference between your existing rent and the ‘target rent’ for your property. You will have been sent a letter notifying you of your individual rent rise.
Councillors reluctantly agreed the increase after hearing the Council was still required to give over £10m of all rents collected to the Government in subsidy despite significant shortfalls in its own budget. Cllr Lucille Thompson, Portfolio Holder for Housing said: “We continue to be in an impossible position. Whilst the
Government accept the current system is unfair and promise change, it is disappointing that additional money has not been made available this year.
“This has meant the Council had little choice but to accept the Government’s recommendations for rent increases”. The proposed change in council house funding should mean both more Council control of budgets and more cash for Council housing.
inside this edition: G
Tenant Satisfaction (status) Survey page 3
Housing Finance Reform
the Government. However, this should mean: G
more cash for housing locally
G
The Government has announced proposals for the reform of Housing funding and for introducing flexible tenancies.
G
more control for the Council over the services it manages
Hot Property Information pages 4-7
G
Money Matters page 8
The ‘Localism Bill’ includes plans to abolish the Housing Subsidy system and allow councils to keep all money collected in rents, which could be introduced in April 2012.
The Government also intend to move away from secure tenancies and want to see councils introduce ‘time-limited’ tenancies in the next year. This would mean regular reviews of tenancies and powers for landlords to change tenancy agreements if the tenants’
In return, councils will need to take over the debt currently funded by
G
tenants have a greater say on how services are run.
Tenant News, produced by Tenants efor d iTenants t i o n 1can be found at the back of this edition
circumstances change. All existing secure tenancies will be protected. The Council has raised a number of concerns about this proposal and will keep you informed once any new information is available.
edition
19
March 2011