Council proposes near 5% rent increase next year
LDRSCouncil house rents in Rotherham could rise by nearly 5% next year as the borough bids to improve housing stock and continue to build new homes.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's plan, to be discussed later this month, would see weekly social rents rise by 4.8% from April 2026.
According to the council's housing business plan, investment worth £1.3m is needed to fully modernise its homes over the next 30 years.
This includes major upgrades such as new roofing, boilers, kitchens and bathrooms, as well as work to tackle damp and mould.
Rents could rise by an additional £2 a week if the government allows councils to move rents closer to national "formula rent" levels, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Formula rent is the government's way of calculating rents for social housing in England, based on property value, local earnings and size.
If approved in full, the average weekly rent would increase by about £6 to just over £101. A final decision from the government on rent convergence is expected in January.
Rotherham Council said higher rents would support the building of new properties, with 1,000 homes planned for summer 2027 and a further 500 by 2037.
About three quarters of tenants receive housing benefit or Universal Credit, meaning many would not feel the rent increase directly as their entitlement would rise in line with rent.
The council said it would continue offering support for residents facing financial pressure, and district heating charges would be frozen, with average bills expected to remain below the national gas price cap.
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