Rent and service charges

Rent and service charge review 2026

We recently wrote to our tenants with details of this year’s changes to rent and service charges. This page provides more information about the changes and answers some of the questions you may have.

When will my rent increase in 2026?

Your rent will increase from either Monday 6 April or Monday 27 April, depending on when your last rent increase happened.

Why has my rent increased?

In keeping with Government guidelines for social housing landlords published in November 2023, Habinteg rents will rise by the rate of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is the official measure of inflation in consumer prices in the UK, plus 1%. For the 2026/27 financial year, the relevant CPI figure (taken at September 2025) is 3.8%.

The increase in rent is necessary to ensure Habinteg maintains your home to the Decent Homes Standard as set out by the UK Government. This means keeping homes in a reasonable state of repair, having reasonably modern facilities and services available for all tenants, and meeting costs associated with the new rules and regulations for mould and damp.

The increase will allow us to continue to make improvements to services and your neighbourhoods. Building materials, labour and maintenance are areas where many social housing providers are still seeing increased costs.

Why has my service charge increased?

Having to pay people to carry out a variety of repairs and maintenance services on our schemes means we will always see costs increase in line with minimum pay rates as set by the Government.

We need to regularly service, maintain and repair equipment and systems in communal areas on schemes to ensure we meet changing Government regulations and keep our tenants safe. This includes servicing lifts, and ensuring door entry, fire safety equipment and warden call services are compliant.

Other areas, which are also expected to increase in costs include the repair and maintenance of internal/external lighting, digital TV ariels or CCTV, and large equipment costs such as laundry machines.

Habinteg does not make any profit on service charges.

Where can I find out more about my service charge?

If you need more information about how your service charge is calculated, please visit www.habinteg.org.uk/service-charge or ask your Neighbourhood Team for a printed copy of our Service Charge Guide.

I claim Universal Credit, what should I do?

If you’re claiming Universal Credit, please log in to your Universal Credit Journal, go to the ‘Tenant’s To-Do’ section, and update your rent charges. Do not update the charges before the rent increase date, as this will prevent the new amount from being applied correctly.

You may also be eligible to have some or all your service charge paid for through Universal Credit.

I claim Housing Benefit, what should I do?

If you’re claiming Housing Benefit, please send a copy of your rent letter Notice to your local Housing Benefit Office immediately. They will adjust the benefit paid, whether it’s paid to you or directly to Habinteg.

You may also be eligible to have some, or all of your service charge paid for through Housing Benefit.

I pay by direct debit, what should I do?

If your rent is paid by direct debit, Habinteg will update this and you’ll receive a letter notifying you of the change. If you pay by standing order, you’ll need to update the amount you pay with your bank.

I pay by standing order, what should I do?

If you pay your rent by standing order, please change your standing order effective from your first payment on or after 1 April 2026.

Where can I check my rent balance and transactions?

You can check your rent balance and transactions by using our online tenant portal called My Habinteg. Registration for the portal is quick and simple.

Make sure you have your Habinteg tenancy reference number handy. It’s a four to six digit number which can be found at the top of your rent statement.

Visit my.habinteg.org.uk. This takes you to the portal's login page. Once there, click on ‘Register new account’, and fill in your tenancy reference number, your first name, surname and date of birth.

Then, create a username – you can use your email address if you like. You’ll also need to set a password and security question. Your password must be at least eight characters long, be a mix of upper and lower letters, and contain at least one number.

Once you’ve created an account, enter your username and password to log in and click the ‘Log in’ button. This will take you to the portal's home page.

If you can’t remember your password or username, you can request a reminder to be sent in an email by clicking the relevant reminder button underneath ‘Log in’.

I will struggle to afford these increases – what are my options?

Our Rent Assist Team is here for you if you think you may fall into rent arrears (not be able to pay your rent) or if you’re already in arrears. Just call the Customer Services Team on 0300 365 3100 and dial option 5 for Rent Assist.

They can advise on a repayment plan, refer you for a benefits check, to ensure you’re getting all the money you’re entitled to, or help you apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local council. We also have a Tenant Support Fund if you’re experiencing extreme hardship.

Whatever you do, please don’t sit in silence if you’re worried. The sooner you speak to us, the sooner we can look at the options available to support you. Just call the Customer Services Team on 0300 365 3100 and ask for Rent Assist.

Winter support booklet

Habinteg has created the Winter Support Booklet as a guide to support all tenants over the winter months in particular. The booklet provides key information and advice on charities and support services related to everything from finances and energy bills to food and health, which you can also find in more detail in our Cost of Living hub at www.habinteg.org.uk/cost-of-living-support.

Download Winter Support Booklet.pdf [3MB]

Download Winter Support Booklet.docx [18MB]