Hartlepool Borough Council housing tenants facing 2.7% rent rise

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Councillors are to consider plans to increase rent for council homes in Hartlepool by 2.7%.

Hartlepool Borough Council officers are recommending the rise for the 356 properties under the local authority’s housing revenue account (HRA).

Around two thirds of tenants would have all or part of their rent increase funded by the Government, which will provide additional funding for those receiving Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The proposed 2.7% increase for 2025-26 is the maximum allowable under current national policy.

Hartlepool Borough Council is proposing a 2.7% rise for its council house tenants.Hartlepool Borough Council is proposing a 2.7% rise for its council house tenants.
Hartlepool Borough Council is proposing a 2.7% rise for its council house tenants.

A report from council officers states “without this proposed rent increase the HRA budget becomes unsustainable and would go into deficit.”

It adds: “The overall challenge for the HRA is to maintain financial viability while delivering good quality homes and services to tenants.

“The HRA is a separate ringfenced account and all costs must be met from rental income. The HRA is required to be self-sustaining and not go into deficit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This increase would also likely be in line with other social housing providers operating in Hartlepool.”

The document will go before the next meeting of the finance and policy committee on Monday, February 10, where it is recommended councillors support the increase and refer the decision to full council for approval.

Reports highlight how in recent years there have been “several factors which have put the HRA under extreme pressure” and the situation is “becoming increasingly difficult”.

These include new government policies, inflation, rising repair costs and damp and mould safeguarding measures.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Council officers also noted rents were frozen in 2020-21 and 2021-22 while 2023-24 saw a 5% rent increase, below the maximum level of 7%.

Their report added: “The impact of this reduced rental income continues to negatively affect the health of the HRA.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1877
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice