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From 4 April householders in Housing Executive properties will have to pay on average an additional £4.86 a week following a decision to increase rents by 7%. The Department for Communities announced the move In response to the Housing Executive’s annual request for a rent increase.
Rent pays for the housing services provided by the Housing Executive. This increase is below the rate of inflation and DfC say it will provide funding for essential maintenance, improvements and investment while also keeping the rent affordable for tenants.
A spokesperson for DFI said tenant affordability was the Department’s key consideration. 78% of Housing Executive tenants are currently in receipt of housing assistance. These tenants will be protected from the impact of the rent increase.
For the other 22% of tenants (with no entitlement or a minimal entitlement to assistance with housing costs), the impact of the increase was modelled across a range of household scenarios all of which demonstrated its affordability.
The Housing Executive is offering support to tenants through its Financial Inclusion Team which helps tenants by providing advice on benefits, budgeting and signposting to a range of sources of financial support.
The spokesperson added "Housing Executive rent levels are considered every year by taking into account a wide range of factors, including: inflation; projected running costs; spending requirements and affordability."
