Cabinet members Sue Sampson and Tom Bruce brought through and presented a series of reports in relation to housing in last night's (16 January) Cabinet Meeting. 

They set out investment, how collection of rents and service charges will be adjusted for 2024/25, and how all of these decisions meant that the overall management and planning associated with housing in Hounslow will be managed looking ahead.

Cabinet took the difficult decision to increase rents across its housing stock in the face of high inflation and rising costs over the last year, as well as the Government's proposed settlement to local authorities which is squeezing the budgets of councils across the capital and England.

In order to continue to provide safe and good-quality homes to tenants, rents will rise by 7.7% - the rate set by central government, which is September 2023's consumer price inflation (CPI) rate plus one percent.

Service charges for tenants will also rise, by 6.7% on average, the CPI rate.

The council says without making this decision, it would have been unable to commit to the highest levels of service for all its tenants, or to invest well in its 16,200 housing units.

An update was also agreed to the Housing Revenue Account's (HRA) Business Plan, which details how the council will use its income – coming from rent, service charge, grants and borrowing – to best manage, maintain and develop its housing the stock.

This is the first update since January 2023 and reflects the delivery of programmes over the last 12 months – as well as the adverse economic conditions, including high inflation and increasing interest rates, which have led to rent and service charge rises.

The update also makes clear the council's commitment to its ambitious housing plans – including the building of 1,000 homes across the borough and investment in the quality of its estates and improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock. 

The business plan also covered Hounslow's proposed Estate Investment Programme in capital works, which will see the council committing to investment of at least £30 million a year over the next five budgets – coming to a total which could top £150 million by 2029.

Hounslow Council has decided to raise the cost of rent and services to residents across the borough as budgets are squeezed (credit: Xander11012/Wikimedia Commons).

These funds will be spent on core works, ensuring that homes are safe and well-maintained; and enhancement works, improving the estate across the borough and helping to decarbonise its housing stock.

Cllr Sue Sampson, Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Homelessness, said: "I'm happy that we've committed to high levels of investment in our housing stock, and to have made a long-term decision ensuring that we can plan housing improvements until practically the end of the decade.

"At the same time, we have had to make some difficult decisions for the year ahead which will affect all our tenants.

"We're committed to investing in our estates and ensuring we provide, safe, good-quality council homes, alongside the best possible services for our tenants.

"In order to continue to do this it is essential for us to increase the rent and some service charges in line with the amount agreed for all councils by the government.

"The vast majority of tenants will be able to apply to fully cover the additional costs through their benefits. Only a small minority of council tenants who are on higher incomes will be financially impacted.

"I would urge anyone who is struggling to pay their rent or service charges, whatever the circumstances, to contact the council for help."

Cllr Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development, said: "It's tremendously important that we are able to commit to longer-term thinking around our responsibility for provision of current council housing and future projects in the borough. 

"The update to the HRA Business Plan also strengthens the framework in which we will deliver the Estate Improvement Programme and other investment across the borough over the coming years."

We want to provide Brentford with more and more clickbait-free local news. To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following. Help us survive and sign up for our free weekly newsletter by clicking the link HERE.