March 2024
During consultation with tenants, you told us that improving the condition of homes is a priority. So, this year, the Council has decided to maximise the amount of money available for improving homes by setting the rent increase at the cap set by Government. The increase for 2024-25 is 6.7 + 1%.
Cornwall Council have increased garage rents by 7.7%. This means that Council tenants’ garage rent has increased from £12.17 to £13.12 per week.
Non-Council tenants’ garage rents have increased from £16.88 to £18.20 per week (£13.12 plus £2.05 Supplement plus £3.03 VAT).
If you are receiving Housing Benefit, you will automatically get your claims recalculated and you will receive a letter with your new entitlement in March.
Please note some people may have recently moved from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit. Please check what you claim, as the increase will affect you differently.
If you receive Universal Credit, either paid directly to you or direct to Cornwall Council, you must update your online Universal Credit journal.
This needs to be done on Monday 01 April 2024. The Universal Credit system cannot process the change in advance and any delays updating this may result in under or over payments, which will need to be corrected.
Log into your Universal Credit account to update your Journal.
Read more information about other support available to you.
There are 365 days in a year. This is equivalent to 52 whole weeks and one day (two days in a leap year). Over time, these extra days build up and add an extra week to the rent year, this happens every five or six years.
In the 2024/25 financial year, which runs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, there will be 53 Mondays. The first Monday is 1 April 2024. The last Monday is 31 March 2025.
If you receive Universal Credit, the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) will only pay up to 52 weeks of rent and service charges per year.
The DWP have said they will not pay for week 53. This means you will need to pay for the additional week yourself.
If you are impacted by this, we can help you set up a payment plan whereby you pay a little extra each week during the year to cover the additional week’s charges and avoid going into arrears.
Please contact us to arrange this.
Anyone paying by direct debit will receive a letter in March with your new collection amounts and dates from April 2024.
Service charges are calculated based on actual spend by Cornwall Housing, so it is not affected by the Government rent increases. The majority of service charges are covered by Housing Benefit / Universal Credit. However, the following are not covered, as they are personal charges not communal.
GAS – Individual gas for properties at Albion Court & Diana Close
ELEC – Individual electric for properties at Polruan
HWAT – Hostel personal water for properties at Polruan & Hendra Park
OIL – Oil heating at Ponsmere Court & Clease Meadow
SEWEMP – Sewerage Emptying at various sites
We are here to help. We know that this may be a difficult time, and we want to do what we can to support you. Our Inclusion Advisors can provide you with tenancy support and financial advice if you need it. They can also agree a personalised rent payment plan or direct you to other agencies who can help.
If you have any concerns about how this change may affect you, please contact us and ask to speak to our Inclusion Advisors or Rent Management team.
There are also some other useful contacts and information about support you can get here.
Email: info@cornwallhousing.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 1234 161
