Pendle Borough Council
Market Street, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 7LG
Tel: 01282 661661 Fax: 01282 661130
Housing- Rent Setting
The Council is responsible for setting the level of rent that it charges to its tenants.
For information email: housing.rents@pendle.gov.uk
In December 2000 the Government published a policy statement, Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All - The Way Forward for Housing . This document included, amongst other things, proposals for rent setting in the social housing sector. The aim was that social rents should remain affordable in the long term, should be fairer and less confusing for tenants, and that similar properties would have comparable rents whoever the landlord was.
In order to achieve this landlord were encouraged to set their rent levels using a formula which takes into account property values, local earnings (county level) and property size (number of bedrooms). The guidance sought to achieve the comparability of rents over a ten year period. Annual rent increases are to be limited to ½% above infation plus a maximum of £2 per week.
Following a meeting of the full Council ,Pendle Council implemented this policy in April 2002. Annual rent increases will continue to be applied from the first Monday in April, and as previously tenants will receive 28 days notice of any changes in their rent.
The same document also encouraged landlords to introduce service charges. Rents are generally taken to include all charges associated with the occupation of a dwelling, such as maintenance and general housing management services. Service charges usually reflect additional services which may not be provided to every tenant, or which may be connected with communal facilities rather than particular to occupation of a dwelling. Such charges are intended to reflect the cost of providing each service
In 2003 Pendle introduced the following service charges.
• Grounds Maintenance
• Stair and Corridor Lighting
• Heating and Lighting of Communal Areas
• Window Cleaning
• Cleaning of Communal Areas
