Rent consultation for 2023/24 – Have your say
The Association has written to every tenant household recently. We’re asking all tenants for feedback on the rent options for 2023/24.
Do rents have to increase?
We know that any rent increase will be unpopular however the costs to the Association of providing services and keeping neighbourhoods safe and tidy have gone up massively in the last year and are expected to keep rising.
At the same time, we know that many people are struggling with higher food, energy and general living costs. Tenants on low incomes are facing big challenges to afford even the essentials now and in the months ahead.
Current rent freeze
You may have seen in the news an announcement from Scottish Government that landlords are not allowed to increase rents before 31 March 2022.
The rent freeze applies only to rents that will increase by 31 March 2023 and the Scottish Government has not ruled a rent increase for April 2023. In the meantime, every Housing Association is required by law to consult with tenants on any proposed change and what it means for them.
So we have sent all tenant households a detailed leaflet and survey form that offer an explanation to the Association’s proposed rent increase and how to take part in the survey consultation.
At this point in time, we don’t know what the decision the Scottish Government will make in relation to future rent increases and we won’t know this until mid-January 2023.
What increase is our Board recommending?
Board members are concerned that, if we increase rents by only 5%, we will not be able to maintain homes to the standards tenants deserve. The leaflet explains why that is the case.
Therefore the Association is recommending a rent increase in 2023/24 of either 7% or 9%. This is below the current rate of inflation.
Have your say
Have your say by returning a completed survey form to us by Saturday, 14 January 2023.
You can do this by:
- Writing: complete the consultation survey form we posted to you and return it to one of our offices
- Online: complete the consultation survey form online by using this link
- Email: email contactus@qcha.org.uk with the heading ‘rent consultation’
- Talk/Video Call: speak to your housing officer