A rent increase will apply from April 2024...

In line with government guidance, rents increase by September’s CPI + 1%. This year this works out to be 7.7%.

If you pay service charges, these will also change in line with the cost of providing the services where you live.

If your tenancy charges rent weekly, you will also need to pay for an extra week of rent this year only. This is because rent is charged to your account every Monday and there are 53 Mondays between 1^st April 2024 – 31^st March 2025.

More information about how this is calculated and charged can be found at the bottom of this page, or by clicking here.

We will write to you with your rent and service charge amounts, including the frequency you must pay in February 2024.

As products and services in the UK get more expensive, so do our costs. The increase in your rent is to make sure we can continue to provide the same level of services to your home that meet our standards as published in the Thrive Deal.

In 2022/23, we spent £5.1million improving our homes compared to £4.3million in the previous year. You can find out about the upgrades we carried out in our Annual Report at thrivehomes.org.uk/annualreport

Even though our rents will increase by 7.7%, this is still lower than the 9.7% rise in costs that we faced last year. Below are some examples:

	2021	2022	2023	% increase
A replacement kitchen	£5012.47	£5525.66	£5910.87	8.48%
A new bathroom suite	£2500	£3210.00	£3583.80	10.95%
Replacing a gas boiler	£1610.85	£1771.94	£1771.94	0%

*Based on averages excluding VAT.  

This year we plan to continue fitting new kitchens, bathrooms, insulation and more to our homes.

With more rises expected, all upgrades are prioritised for homes that need it to stay safe and well maintained. That’s why our HomePlan visits and stock condition surveys are important. They help us plan and spend our money wisely. If we contact you with one of these appointments, please let us know if you need to change it.

Previously, you may have received a HomePlan visit each year in addition to other routine appointments such as gas safety checks or repairs you need. We know it can be tricky finding time to be at home for multiple appointments, so we are looking at how we can get the most out of each visit. This means you may not receive a HomePlan visit if we’ve visited at another time in the year. 

We’ll share more information with you about this in the spring and remember, you can contact us all year round to talk to us about your home or account.

Yes, service charges change each year to cover the cost of providing services for your building and estate.

We will inform customers of any changes to the amount due for service charges in February 2024. 

You can find out more and watch a video about the way we calculate and apply service charges at: thrivehomes.org.uk/servicecharges

Yes. Customers on digital tenancies must always maintain four weeks credit.

Where your rent increases, we will arrange to collect a one-off payment from you in April 2024 to keep your account in four weeks credit of the new rent amount. The additional payment will be on top of your new rent amount.

The one-off payment amount will depend on the amount of your rent increase.

From May 2024 onward, your basic direct debit instalments will be for your new rent amount only. 

You will need to update your journal to inform Universal Credit of the new rent amount after 1st April 2024. Universal Credit cannot accept this information in advance.

If your tenancy charges you rent every week of the year, your Universal Credit claim will not cover all of your rent payments this year. This is because rent is charged to your account every Monday and there are 53 Mondays between 1^st April 2024 – 31^st March 2025.

As Universal Credit will only pay the weekly rent amount for up to 52 weeks a year, you will need to pay rent for the 53^rd of the year due on 31^st March 2025 using your personal income.

For more information on how this will work, click here.

If you think you may have difficulty in paying your rent at any time, support is available. Please click here to access our latest advice and support.

We will tell your Local Authority what your new rent and service charge payments will be so they can re-assess your claim.

If you think you may have difficulty in paying your rent at any time, support is available. Please click here to access our latest advice and support.

Please contact us immediately if you are having difficulty managing your payments or need additional support, and we will do all we can to help.

If you need some support and you’re not sure where to turn, we can show you the way to access:

• impartial independent financial advice
• mental health support services
• family support services
• adult support needs services
• domestic violence advice and support.

Find out more at thrivehomes.org.uk/wellbeing or speak to us confidentially on 0800 917 6077.

If you or someone you know is in danger and in need of help, immediately call 999 or the Samaritans on 116 123.

The best way to get in touch is by:

• Live chat - talk to us within office hours by clicking here.
• Email - enquiries@thrivehomes.org.uk

Your total rent payments for the year will be split across 48 weeks, this includes rent due for the extra week starting 31st March 2025.

Here’s an example…

Miss Tanner’s rent is £100 per week. As of 1^st April 2024, her weekly rent amount will increase by 7.7% to £107.70.

As there this a 53^rd week in the year 2024/25, £107.70 will be divided equally over 48 weeks. This means an extra £2.07 will be added to Miss Tanner’s weekly rent amount for this year only.

This brings Miss Tanner’s total rent amount (excluding service charges) to £109.77. per week.

The extra £2.07 is added to Miss Tanner’s rent for this year only. Any changes to her rent from April 2025 will be based on £107.70.

Rent will be charged to your account on each of the 53 Mondays between 1^st April 2024 – 31^st March 2025.

Here’s an example…

Mr Smith’s rent is £100 per week. As of 1^st April 2024, his weekly rent amount will increase by 7.7% to £107.70.

To cover the 53^rd week in the year, £107.70 will be charged to his account on 31^st March 2025.