Rent Increase - FAQ's

The cost of providing our services has been increasing.

Our rents are set using Government guidelines and your rent pays for the vital services that we provide.

The rent we receive is used to:

• Maintain and repair homes; ensuring they are safe, warm and well looked after
• Improve and modernise properties; including works that support energy efficiency and sustainability, such as new windows, insulation, heating systems, and upgrades like new kitchens and bathrooms
• Build new, high quality, and sustainable homes to help meet local housing need
• Support tenants and communities; including tenancy support, digital services, and day-to-day customer services
• Cover employee costs; so we have the skilled teams needed to deliver services and support customers
• Meet the costs of borrowing; which helps us fund new homes and long-term investment in our existing properties

We also receive income from other sources, such as loans and non‑housing activities, which helps us continue investing in homes and services.

To allow us to continue this investment we need to increase your rent.

A breakdown of our spend from 2024/25 is included in our annual report to tenants.

Housing rents will increase by 4.8%. If you are in a Shared Ownership home the rent will also increase by 4.8%.

For example: If you currently pay £90.00 per week your housing rent will increase to £94.32.

The government allows social housing providers to increase rents in line with the Consumer Price Index, plus up to an additional 1% per year, so that their income keeps up with price inflation.

This also depends on the type of tenancy you have. Shared Ownership rents can go up by the retail price index (RPI) as at the September of the previous year plus 0.5%. This would mean an increase of up to 5.0% (RPI inflation in September was 4.5% + 0.5%).

We are increasing our shared ownership rents by the same percentage as our social and affordable rents, which is 4.8%.

In the week commencing 23 February 2026, all our housing customers will receive a letter explaining the revised charges that apply from 6 April 2026.

We can help you with money support and offer benefits advice. Details of the support we offer is available on our Money Support page.

At the moment, nothing. We will notify your housing benefit provider who will then send you a letter with your revised benefit entitlement.

Wait until you receive your letter from your housing benefit provider to see if your new benefit entitlement covers your rent.  If you only receive partial Housing Benefit, you will need to deduct this from your total charge and pay the difference.

You will need to update your rent amount on your online journal.

This must be done no earlier than 6 April 2026 and no later than the end of the first monthly assessment period following the changes.

If you need help to do this, you can contact us on 0800 587 4538.

Note:  If your UC payment includes a Transitional Protection element, your monthly payments may not increase this year.

No, you do not need to take any action. You will receive a letter or email confirmation with the new amount we intend to collect at least 10 days before the first collection.

You will need to advise your bank of the revised amounts you need to pay.

If you need us to confirm the new amount with you, please get in touch via the App or email incometeam@livin.co.uk

Why not consider paying by Direct Debit?  We would update your payments automatically.

You can set up a direct debit by downloading our App:

Download on iPhone or iPad

Download on Android

Do you know you can use our app on PC? Register now.

Your new water rates are calculated by Northumbrian Water and will be included in the letter you receive week commencing 23 February 2026. 

Wait until you receive your letter from your housing benefit provider to see if your new benefit entitlement covers your rent.

If you receive full housing benefit you still need to pay the water charges yourself.

If you only receive partial Housing Benefit, you will need to deduct this from your total charges and pay the difference.

If you have a water meter you will continue to pay your charges directly to Northumbrian Water.