Rents are due to increase on Monday 6th April 2026, and all SHAL residents will receive a letter about this in February 2026. This page contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have questions or concerns that have not been answered here, please give us a call on 01278 444344, email reception@shal.org, or text RENTS (plus a message) to 07984 355553 to speak to your Housing Officer.
ABOUT THE CHANGE
Why is my rent going up?
SHAL can increase rents in line with the Government Rent Standard (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rent-standard-2026). This says that for rent increases from 1st April 2026, we can increase rent by CPI (consumer price index) plus 1%. This means that rent increases link with rates of inflation. CPI for 2026 – 2027 has been calculated as 3.8%, which means our rents will increase by 3.8 + 1 = 4.8%.
SHAL is a not-for-profit Housing Association, which means any surplus we make is invested back into the organisation so that we can keep providing safe, warm and affordable homes. Rent is our main income, which we use to invest in your homes. We also employ a team of people that provide maintenance and customer services. Increasing rent helps us with the rising costs of materials, goods and services that we use on a daily basis.
What about service charge?
If you pay a service charge, we will review the amount you pay each year alongside your rent. Service charges are variable and can go up or down.
What do I get for my money?
The rent you pay enables Shal to provide:
- A responsive repairs service, with most repairs completed within 28 days
- An emergency repairs service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to make sure your home is safe and secure
- Investment into homes, for replacement kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows and energy efficiency improvements
- Support from our Housing team to answer any queries, deal with any concerns, and connect you to local services
What if I can’t afford the increase?
If you are concerned about the rent increase, or have any questions, please get in touch with us. You can call 01278 444344, email reception@shal.org, or text RENTS (plus a message) to 07984 355553 to speak to your Housing Officer. If you are worried about being able to pay your rent, we can discuss this with you and work together to find the right support. More information about support available can be found here.
What if I’m in arrears?
If you are in arrears with your rent account, we will adjust your repayment plan to keep it in line with the rent increase. If you have any questions about this, text RENTS (plus a message) to 07984 355553 to speak to your Housing Officer.
What if I do not accept the change?
If you do not accept the new rent, please get in touch with us by calling 01278 444344 or emailing reception@shal.org. If you do not want to discuss this with us directly, you can refer the rent increase notice to a tribunal using a form called ‘Application referring a notice proposing a new rent under an Assured Periodic Tenancy or Agricultural Occupancy to a Tribunal (Form 6)’. This form is available on the Gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/assured-tenancy-forms. You may find it helpful to get advice from your local Citizen’s Advice centre or a solicitor if you want to refer to a tribunal.
BENEFITS
If you receive benefits to cover some or all of your rent, you may need to make some changes as a result of the rent increase.
Housing benefit
If you receive housing benefit, this is paid directly to SHAL. We will write to the Local Authority to let them know about the increase. If there is a difference between your weekly rent and the amount of housing benefit you receive, it is your responsibility to pay the difference. If you need help calculating this difference after the rent increase, contact your Housing Officer by texting RENTS (plus a message) to 07984 355553, or by calling us on 01278 444344.
Universal Credit
If you receive universal credit that includes money towards your housing costs, you will need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that your rent has increased. You can do this online through your online journal (https://www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in) or by calling 0800 328 5644. Please do not update your journal with the new rent amount before 6th April 2026. Please do this on 6th April, or as soon as possible after this date.