Rent levels - how rent charges are set

How your rent is set

The rent for each individual property will be changed from April 2013 in line with the national rent formula introduced by the former Government in April 2002. The formula takes into account the average earnings for the West Midlands, the number of bedrooms in the property and the valuation of that property at 1999 prices. The rent charged from April 2013 will increase the average annual rent levels for 2013/14 by 4.94 per cent when compared with the average charged for 2012/13. This is the average across the city and some tenants may see a slightly higher or slightly lower increase than this average.

How we decide how much to increase your rent by?

Any rent increases use the Retail Price Index (RPI) as a factor in setting the increase. The RPI measures the rate of inflation in the UK, and rent increases are set using the RPI from the previous September. This is 2.6% for 2013/14.

We also limit rent increases so that an increase in the annual rent charged cannot be higher than RPI + 0.5% + £2 per week.

How your service charge levels are set

Service Charges are set in line with national guidelines that say they have to be separated from the rent for your property and fully cover the costs of providing that particular service. A range of Service Charges (but not all) are payable depending on the services provided to tenants and may include concierge, cleaning communal lighting and sheltered accommodation.

The Council put into place a policy of recovering the full service costs over a five-year period from October 2002 to October 2007. This is now complete and charges are now made for the actual cost of the service. Service Charges will increase by 1 per cent from April 2013 to reflect the increasing costs of service delivery. This is the first increase since October 2010. The Service Charges are separately calculated for each District to reflect local service costs and will also be levied over a 48 week cycle alongside the weekly rent.