Wandsworth Council Increases Rents by Maximum Allowed
Most tenants will see what they pay rise by over 2.5 per cent
Highcliffe Drive, SW15. Picture: Mandy Barry-Cades
January 24, 2025
Wandsworth Council tenants are set to see their weekly rent rise by up to 2.7 per cent from April, the maximum allowed under government guidelines. The proposed rent increase would result in 16,876 tenants paying an average of £3.56 more a week, excluding service charges.
A report by council officers said the proposed rent increase would generate an extra £3.13million a year. This would help to protect the viability of the authority’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan, it said, which sets out spending and income relating to its housing stock.
The report added, “In developing the following proposals consideration has been given to the impact of both the continued cost pressures in the HRA and also the impact that the current cost-of-living crisis is continuing to have on household finances whilst striking an appropriate balance between affordability for tenants and the responsibility and requirement for maintaining existing stock to a decent standard and the council’s ambitious plans to increase the level of stock (through build and purchase) whilst maintaining a financially viable HRA business plan.”
It comes after the Government confirmed in December social rents for 2025/26 could be increased by a maximum of 2.7 per cent. This was based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising by 1.7 per cent in the 12 months to September 2024.
The council’s housing committee approved plans to adopt the maximum allowed rent increase in Wandsworth on Wednesday (22 January). A final decision will be taken at a full council meeting on 5 February.
The level of rent paid by a council tenant depends on the number of bedrooms in the property. The council has provided the planned increases in average weekly social and affordable rents for 2025/26 according to the size of the property in Wandsworth, which are summarised below:
Zero bedrooms: £2.38 per week, or 2.68 per cent
One bedroom: £3.12 per week, or 2.66 per cent
Two bedrooms: £3.74 per week, or 2.59 per cent
Three bedrooms: £4.40 per week, or 2.42 per cent
Four bedrooms: £2.22 per week, or 1.16 per cent
Five bedrooms: £0.64 per week, or 0.31 per cent
Six bedrooms: no increase
Seven bedrooms: no increase
Overall, the plans would result in an actual average rent increase of 2.47 per cent, or £3.56 a week, due to the current profile of rents in Wandsworth. Rent levels for council tenants in temporary accommodation at Nightingale Square and those living in properties with shared ownership agreements would also increase by a maximum of 2.7 per cent.
Some tenants have their rent met in full by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. Residents in receipt of these benefits can apply to the council for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help pay their rent if they are struggling to meet the total cost.
Charlotte Lilywhite - Local Democracy Reporter