Information about your rent
Calculating your rent
The terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement sets out the council's responsibilities and your responsibilities for paying your rent.
A copy of the terms and conditions will be handed to you when you sign your tenancy agreement.
Brent Council is responsible for setting the level of your rent. Your rent is based on the value of your home, average income for the area, government guidelines and also the council's overall budget.
All council homes managed by Brent Housing Partnership have been given a value which is based on the amount it would have cost to purchase the property in January 1999.
The higher the value of your property the higher the amount of rent you will pay.
As well as the 'net rent', the rent which you pay may include service charges e.g. grounds maintenance and cleaning.
Tenants on low incomes can obtain housing benefit for their net rent and certain service charges.
Other items which may be added to your rent, but do not attract housing benefit, include:
- a heating charge providing you have a council-supplied heating system in your property. These systems usually provide hot water and heating
- water charges. These pay for the supply of water and the council collects them on behalf of your local water company
- voluntary charges e.g. insurance and garage rental.
Falling behind your rent
If you are having problems paying your rent, contact your housing officer immediately.
The staff will discuss how any arrears can best be tackled, and will also be able to check whether you are claiming the benefits to which you are entitled.
If your arrears continue to increase, Brent Housing Partnership on behalf of the council will take court action to recover the money you owe, and you could lose your home.
If you are evicted from your home because of rent arrears, you may not be re-housed by any council.
Remember, if you are a joint tenant you are each responsible for all the arrears, not just for a share of it.
How your rent is made up
Your rent will be made up of the following:
- Net rent - This is the basic rent you pay. If you have rent arrears you will also have to pay an agreed amount of the arrears.
- Service charges - Additional charges for facilities shared by residents in your block or on your estate such as communal cleaning, grounds maintenance, communal lightning, tv aerial, and a concierge if you have one
- Water rates - The council pays the water company on your behalf and these charges are added to your rent. These are adjusted yearly if the water company increases or decreases their charges.
- Heating / hot water - These costs are for district heating where a boiler is shared with other households.
- Insurance (optional) - The council runs a scheme where you can pay insurance for the contents of your property, and this amount will be included in your weekly rent.
- Garages (optional) - You may rent a garage for your own use. If you are a council tenant the cost is £4.41. If you are a private tenant the cost is £6.23.There is a discount for disabled people. Information is available from your tenancy management officer.