Rent and Service Charges 2021-2022

Overview

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s (CWC) Housing Services are required to undertake an annual review of its rent and service charges.

In February 2019 the government confirmed that it will resume the policy to increase rents by consumer price index (CPI) plus 1% from 1 April 2020 for five years.

For the financial year 2020-2021 a 2.7% increase was approved, this increase allowed us to build more Council homes and make improvements to housing quality by helping to fund the projects set out below:

•         A pitched re-roofing programme.

•         A re-roofing programme converting flat roofs to pitch roofs.

•         Year 2 of the Heath Town refurbishment project.

•         Year 2 of the programme to improve high-rise flats including improving fire safety and renewing services in tower blocks (electric and water supplies). It also includes installing sprinkler systems.

•         Improving the decency of homes as they become empty as well as homes used for temporary accommodation.

•         Delivering over 50 new build council homes.

For the financial year 2021-2022 an increase of 1.5% will be proposed to Cabinet in January 2021.

The impact of the rent increase is detailed in the table below:

This increase would allow the Council to maximise investment in new build Council housing and improve housing quality and the safety of homes.

For 2021-2022 our priorities will include:

•         Repairs - continue to improve our repairs and maintenance service.

•         Customer experience - enabling customers to deal with us easily and ensure that they are listened to through a variety of channels.

•         Community focused - being more visible out in the neighbourhoods.  As we move towards more digital channels with more customers using services online, we want to ensure that that we’re more visible in the community too. The Estate Custodian approach allows us to go to the customer rather than they having to come to us. 

•         Smart working - developing digital platforms and a new website that will provide ease of access and speed in responding to calls.

•         Helping communities to stay safe and secure.

•         Keep neighbourhoods clean and tidy.

•         Planned maintenance, investment and improvements to homes - responsive repairs, planned repairs, improvements and adaptations; asbestos and fire reviews - materials used, and specifications.

•         Supporting the City Housing Strategy to provide more homes.

•         Wrap around services - supporting the challenges Universal Credit poses; welfare benefits and money advice.

•         Making improvements to aids and adaptions - quicker and easier for people with a disability to have access to what is needed.

•         Working to make the city a more environmentally friendly city.

Why your views matter

As part of Council’s commitment to involving tenants and other service users in the management of housing services, City of Wolverhampton Council invites views from tenants and leaseholders in respect of rent and service charges and the Council’s priorities for 2021-2022.