On 20 February 2024, we agreed the rent and charge increases for homes and garages for the the 2024/25 financial year. You will have received a letter from us giving formal notice of your individual charges.

The increases are:

• weekly and monthly rent: 7.7%
• garage rent: 7.7%
• service charges: 7.7%
• warden charges and support charges: 5%
• communal supply charges: 6.7%
• scooter charges: 6.7%
• heating charges: 5%
• water charges: 9%
• care costs: 5%

We know that these are significant increases at a time when the cost of living is going up for many people. Unfortunately, we have to increase charges to reflect the costs that we are having to meet.

Our information leaflet has information about local support available.

Help is available if you are struggling to pay your rent.

Cheque refunds

We have introduced a new policy to stop all cheque payments, this includes housing rent refunds.

From 30 April 2024, if a housing rent refund is required, tenants will need to provide bank details in order for the refund to be paid directly into their account. If anyone is uncomfortable giving details over the phone, a form can be posted, but this will slow down the refund process.

Poole tenants who receive Universal Credit

All Poole tenants who receive Universal Credit will need to make changes on their Universal Credit journal.

If you were receiving Universal Credit before 1 April, you will need to report a change of circumstances in your journal to confirm that you no longer have any rent-free weeks and provide your new weekly rent charges.

Even if you have already updated your journal with the new charges from 1 April, you will need to enter a change of circumstances to report that you have no rent-free weeks.

If you do not make this change, you will only be paid for 48 weeks this year and will go into rent arrears.

Universal Credit only pays 52 weeks they do not cover the 53rd week this year.

If you are receiving Universal Credit payments for the first time from 1 April or after, you can complete the 'confirm your housing costs’ to do list in your journal.

If you need any help, please call us on 0800 028 1870 and ask to speak to a member of the Income Team or Your Money Team.