News

Your rent helps us to ensure homes, estates and blocks are well maintained and enables individuals to lead independent and fulfilling lives. It also supports vulnerable communities.

The Council sets rent levels in line with social housing rents which are controlled by the government. Normally, any increase in rent is set at the rate of inflation + 1%. The rental increase has therefore been set at 7.7% for 2024/25.

In November 2023 the Chancellor announced in the Autumn Statement that the government will raise LHA rates in Great Britain. For the vast majority of tenants who are claiming full or partial benefit, the rent increase will, to a large extent, be mitigated by increases in Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.

Providing essential services

We work hard to keep our costs low and are always looking to find savings and more efficient ways of working. However, external prices have been rising, particularly for essential building materials and commodities that we need in order to provide services. 

What happens next

Your personal rent changes will be sent to you by letter from the week beginning 26 February 2024. This letter will also confirm any changes to other charges included in the gross weekly rent associated with your home.

What you need to do 

If you receive Housing Benefit you don’t need to do anything as we will inform the Housing Benefit department of the new rent charges. You will then get another letter in mid-March informing you of your new amount. 

If you are a Universal Credit (UC) claimant, please log into the Universal Credit portal to advise the Department of Work and Pensions of your new rent charges but do not do this until 1 April 2024 when the new charges take effect.  It is important that you complete this, otherwise the rent increase will not be reflected in the amount of Universal Credit you receive to help to cover your rent.

What to do if you’re worried 

We understand that any increase in rent will have an impact on many residents who continue to be directly affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis and the huge rise in energy bills. 

If you are worried about not being able to afford your rent or other essential living costs please don’t suffer in silence - talk to us. We will do all we can to help and support you. 

You can email your Housing Manager or call us on 020 8915 2000 if you are having financial difficulties. 

Get support: 

• managing your money 

• make arrangements to pay rent

• food and household essentials

• employment and training support

• support with debt

• reduce your fuel bills

• Sutton Council’s cost of living support 

You can also contact Together for Sutton for a wide range of advice and help with benefits and tax credits, debt, housing and employment and health and social care needs.

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• SHP manages the day to day housing management services, including responsive repairs, which are funded from a management fee allocated to SHP by the London Borough of Sutton on an annual basis. 

• SHP are a Housing Company who manage and maintain The London Borough of Sutton’s 6000 Council homes and 1400 leasehold properties. Our purpose is to make every home a platform for successful lives.

• The rent you pay helps us to maintain our estates and blocks and provide essential repairs and maintenance services, help people live well independently, provide decent homes for our tenants, and support vulnerable communities.

• We follow social housing rents which are controlled by the government. Normally, any increase in rent is set at the rate of inflation + 1%. 

• The Government has set the rent increase to be at 7.7%

• So, in line with government guidance, your rent will increase by 7.7% from April. However, for the vast majority of tenants who are claiming full or partial benefit, the rent increase will, to a large extent, be mitigated by increases in Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.