How we set your rent and charges

Our rent charges for secure and assured tenants are set fairly, based on independent guidance and our own rent assessment policies.

How we set your rent

Secure tenants

If you are a secure tenant, the maximum rent we can charge on your home is set by an independent organisation called the Valuation Office Agency.

Every two years, we apply to the Valuation Office Agency to review our maximum rent level. We will set the actual rent you pay in line with our rent policy.

Assured tenants

If you are an assured tenant, your rent is set by our Rent and Project Officer, based on our rent assessment policy. For most secure tenants, rent changes at the beginning of April every year.

If you are a former tenant with Presentation Housing Association, Croydon Peoples Housing Association or Pathway Housing Association, the date your rent changes will vary.

Rent policies

You can get details of our current rent policies for secure and assured tenants from your Housing Officer. We will provide you with details and advice when we send you rent increase notices. If you disagree with the rent that has been set, we will provide details of how you can appeal against it.

Service charges

We sometimes provide extra services to tenants, particularly in larger blocks of flats, on estates or in sheltered housing schemes. Examples of these extra services include:

  • cleaning shared areas
  • phones
  • lifts
  • heating
  • hot water
  • a community caretaker or scheme manager.

Your tenancy agreement will list the services that are covered by your service charge. Housing benefit does not cover some charges such as heating and hot water provided to your home, so you may have to pay some charges yourself.

Furniture charges

If you have a furnished tenancy, the furniture charge in your rent will stay at a fixed level for four years (or any shorter period stated in your tenancy agreement). After this time we will review the charge and we will usually remove the furniture charge, which may mean you pay less total weekly rent.

Even if you are no longer making weekly payments for furniture, the furniture still belongs to Notting Hill Housing. You may keep the furniture for as long as you stay in your home but you must ask our permission before you remove it.

More information

For more information about rent, service and furniture charges, contact your Housing Officer.