Since April 2003, both council and housing association tenants have had their rents set according to the Government's National Formula (often referred to as rent restructuring).
The government's aims for introducing rent restructuring are to:
- Ensure rents are affordable and well below those in the private sector
- remove differences between council rents and housing association rents for similar properties
- develop closer links between rents and property qualities ,for example, the bedroom size and location of a property
- make rents fairer and less confusing for tenants.
The scheme enables councils to set rents according to the National Formula.
Rents are linked to local earning levels and property values with weighting for the number of bedrooms in the property.
The National Formula allows the council to set target rents for each property and individual rents will move gradually towards that target rent to achieve the target by 2011/12.
Each year, for most people, you will see a gradual increase in your rent as we achieve these targets. The increases will be seen on your rent notification letters that come to you in February of each year.
Rent increases are generally limited by the Governments formula, thus protecting tenants from unreasonable rent increases.
Contact details
If you are interested in finding out more about the Government's National Formula for rent setting, or you wish to find out more about your rent increase please contact Brent Housing Partnership Rent section in writing at:
Brent Housing Partnership
Chancel House
Neasden Lane
Neasden
London
NW10 2UF