We’re asking for your feedback on proposed changes to our Rent Setting and Service Charge Policy. This includes some important changes about how we set rents for tenants in social rented homes.

No changes are proposed for tenants who remain in their current home or our existing supported housing schemes.

We want to hear your views on the revised policy before we make any decisions.

You can find the draft of the updated policy here:

Who would be affected by the proposed changes?

  • Tenants of future new build properties and future supported housing schemes.
  • Existing tenants looking to move to another one of our general needs properties (homes for people without a specific supported housing need) - known as ‘transfers’.
  • The proposed changes do not apply to any other Southway tenants.

The changes we’re planning will also:

  • Make the policy clearer as to what it covers and doesn’t cover, and help tenants understand how rents are set.
  • Introduce flexibility in setting social rents. The Government allows registered housing providers like Southway to adjust its social rents by an agreed percentage to help them plan for local factors. This is known as ‘flexibility’.
  • Update arrangements to manage service charges, if you pay them.

Subject to your feedback, we would like to:

  • Apply 5% rent flexibility when re-letting existing general needs social rent homes. This would also apply to tenants wishing to transfer.
  • Apply 5% rent flexibility when letting future new build general needs homes.
  • Apply 10% rent flexibility when letting future new build supported housing schemes. (A higher flexibility applies to these homes due to the extra support they provide)

So, for example: the rent to be charged would increase as shown below. (Examples only to show the impact of rent flexibility, based on 50 rent weeks excluding service charges)

Property Type

Weekly Social Rent

 Weekly Social Rent with flexibility Local Housing Allowance

Re-let three-bedroom
general needs home

 £121.89 £127.98 £228.12

New build two-bedroom
general needs home

 £108.44 £113.86 £210.11

New build one bedroom
supported housing

 £95.79 £105.37 £186.10

The proposed rent with flexibility would remain significantly lower than the Local Housing Allowance - which is the maximum benefit eligible rent which could be charged for a similar property in the private rental sector.

Why do we need to make changes?

Charging an increased rent when properties are relet helps us to invest more in improving your home and provide important services and activities in our communities.

It also means we can build more social and affordable homes for people in need of housing, a commitment in our new Five-Year Plan.

Use the link below to submit your feedback

Complete the social rent survey

  • Please respond by Tuesday 15 July

If you have any questions about this consultation or the policy, please email Maureen Ward, Community Investment & Customer Involvement Manager, m.ward@southwayhousing.co.uk.

Your views will be heard by Southway’s Board before a decision is made.
We look forward to hearing from you.