This April, Southway rents will increase. We, and all other housing associations, set rents using Government guidance, which usually sees them increase by slightly more than the rate of inflation.

You'll receive a personalised letter with your new rent figure. In your letter and on this page, we've explained how the rent increase works, how to pay, and the help available to you.

If you pay service charges, the letter will also explain any changes to those.

We're a not-for-profit organisation, which means we do not profit from your rent or service charge payments. All the income we receive is invested back into the services, homes, and help provided to you and all other tenants.

As well as day-to-day repairs, we’re investing in your homes and neighbourhoods to make them safer, warmer, and more sustainable. Over the next few years, we’ll carry out work through energy-efficiency measures to help reduce bills and keep you warmer, and we'll be starting a programme of improvements like new kitchens, bathrooms, and roofs where needed, as well as external boundary work. 

There are many easy ways to pay your rent. We recommend paying by Direct Debit because it’s automatic, free, convenient, and safe. A Direct Debit is an instruction that you give your bank or building society. 

You can also pay your rent online on the MySouthway portal on our website, on the allpay app, or by Standing Order, text message, post, or at a PayPoint or Post Office.  

To set up a Direct Debit or learn more about the ways to pay your rent, please visit ways to pay your rent.

Please note: We do not accept Payzone payments, so please make sure that you use a Paypoint outlet.

If you’re having money problems or finding it difficult to manage, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We’re here to listen and look at all the available options with you to help you get the right support. Please get in touch if you need help. 

We're here to provide you with free, confidential support on: 

  • Rent arrears
  • Getting into work and training
  • Managing debt
  • Applying for benefits you are entitled to
  • Money advice including help with bills, using less energy and tips to plan budgets
  • Using food clubs and foodbanks
  • Banking
  • Affordable loans 

If you'd like to speak to our Income Team or Advice Team, please get in touch with them. Here’s how you can do that: 

You can also find helpful money and benefits advice from the Citizens Advice and Benefits - GOV.UK 

In April 2026, you'll be sent a ‘Confirm your housing costs’ to-do. You need to report your rent increase to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through your online Universal Credit journal in your online account from 6th April 2026 (no earlier) or as soon as possible afterwards - no later than the end of your Monthly Assessment Period (MAP). Do not report it before 6th April 2026.  

They will then increase the housing cost element of your UC. Follow these steps:  

  1. Sign in to your Universal Credit account at universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in  
  1. Click on ‘To-do list’, then click on ‘Housing’  
  1. When it asks, ‘Did your housing costs change on 6th April 2026?’, select ‘Yes’  

 

  1. When it asks, ‘Are you still charged weekly for your rent’, select ‘Yes’. Add your new rent charge.  
  1. When it asks, ‘Are you still charged weekly for your service charges?’, select ‘Yes’. Add your new eligible service charges (if you have them). 
  1. When it asks ‘Do you have any free weeks?’, please look at your tenancy agreement. If you're unsure, please email incomecollections@southwayhousing.co.uk.  

Some tenants pay charges for extra services, particularly in blocks of flats, estates, or sheltered housing schemes. If you pay a service charge, the letter you received will tell you about any increases in your service charges, which will apply from 6th April 2026.

Service charges can increase based on inflation (for fixed service charges), or changes in contracts or service need. 

These are the shared services in your building, such as cleaning, lifts and grounds maintenance. These costs can be included in Housing Benefit or the housing costs part of Universal Credit. 

These are services provided just for you, such as personal fuel costs or your community alarm. These cannot be included in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. What you pay will depend on where you live and how much energy you use. 

What does my rent pay for? What will happen to the additional rent I pay?

We're a not-for-profit organisation, which means we do not profit from your rent or service charge payments. All the income we receive is invested back into the services, homes, and help provided to you and all other tenants.

How will my rent and service charge payments be spent?

As well as day-to-day repairs, we’re investing in your homes and neighbourhoods to make them safer, warmer, and more sustainable. Over the next few years, we’ll carry out work through energy-efficiency measures to help reduce bills and keep you warmer, and we'll be starting a programme of improvements like new kitchens, bathrooms, and roofs where needed, as well as external boundary work. 

How can I pay my rent?

There are many easy ways to pay your rent. We recommend paying by Direct Debit because it’s automatic, free, convenient, and safe. A Direct Debit is an instruction that you give your bank or building society. 

You can also pay your rent online on the MySouthway portal on our website, on the allpay app, or by Standing Order, text message, post, or at a PayPoint or Post Office.  

To set up a Direct Debit or learn more about the ways to pay your rent, please visit ways to pay your rent.

Please note: We do not accept Payzone payments, so please make sure that you use a Paypoint outlet.

Worried about your new payments?

If you’re having money problems or finding it difficult to manage, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We’re here to listen and look at all the available options with you to help you get the right support. Please get in touch if you need help. 

We're here to provide you with free, confidential support on: 

  • Rent arrears
  • Getting into work and training
  • Managing debt
  • Applying for benefits you are entitled to
  • Money advice including help with bills, using less energy and tips to plan budgets
  • Using food clubs and foodbanks
  • Banking
  • Affordable loans 

If you'd like to speak to our Income Team or Advice Team, please get in touch with them. Here’s how you can do that: 

You can also find helpful money and benefits advice from the Citizens Advice and Benefits - GOV.UK 

I claim Universal Credit – what do I need to do?

In April 2026, you'll be sent a ‘Confirm your housing costs’ to-do. You need to report your rent increase to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through your online Universal Credit journal in your online account from 6th April 2026 (no earlier) or as soon as possible afterwards - no later than the end of your Monthly Assessment Period (MAP). Do not report it before 6th April 2026.  

They will then increase the housing cost element of your UC. Follow these steps:  

  1. Sign in to your Universal Credit account at universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in  
  1. Click on ‘To-do list’, then click on ‘Housing’  
  1. When it asks, ‘Did your housing costs change on 6th April 2026?’, select ‘Yes’  

 

  1. When it asks, ‘Are you still charged weekly for your rent’, select ‘Yes’. Add your new rent charge.  
  1. When it asks, ‘Are you still charged weekly for your service charges?’, select ‘Yes’. Add your new eligible service charges (if you have them). 
  1. When it asks ‘Do you have any free weeks?’, please look at your tenancy agreement. If you're unsure, please email incomecollections@southwayhousing.co.uk.  
How are service charges affected?

Some tenants pay charges for extra services, particularly in blocks of flats, estates, or sheltered housing schemes. If you pay a service charge, the letter you received will tell you about any increases in your service charges, which will apply from 6th April 2026.

Service charges can increase based on inflation (for fixed service charges), or changes in contracts or service need. 

What is an eligible service charge?

These are the shared services in your building, such as cleaning, lifts and grounds maintenance. These costs can be included in Housing Benefit or the housing costs part of Universal Credit. 

What is an ineligible service charge?

These are services provided just for you, such as personal fuel costs or your community alarm. These cannot be included in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. What you pay will depend on where you live and how much energy you use.