This report proposes a rent increase within the Council’s Supported Living properties utilised within Adult Social Care to bring rents in line with similar Council properties.
Minutes:
The Executive Director of Adult Care and Health Services submitted a report proposing a rent increase within the Council’s Supported Living properties utilised within Adult Social Care, to bring rents in line with similar Council properties.
The report summarised supported living provision offered within Council-owned properties and explained the nature of the properties’ exemptions from social housing and rental legislation which applied to other forms of social housing, and the impact this had on chargeable rents. In order to calculate rent that was reflective of the locality and could meet housing management costs and Housing Benefit eligibility, as well as resolve the disparity of rent charged within the Supported Living scheme for different types of accommodation, it was recommended to set new rent levels in line with the Local Housing Allowance and implement an annual rent increase for all properties within the scheme.
The report explained that individuals who were receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (which currently included all the individuals who were living in these properties) would continue to have their rent paid by these welfare benefits and would not see an impact on their own personal finances. A five-year maintenance plan had been developed in order to ensure the properties were fit for purpose into the future.
Resolved –
That the rent for Council-owned Supported Living properties be increased in line with Local Housing Allowance and that annual rent increases of CPI (as at October each year) +1% per annum be implemented from 1 April 2021, in line with social rent and affordable rent increases, generating an expected additional rent of £21k per annum.
Supporting documents: