1. Why are you putting rents up?
Southern Housing Group is a not-for-profit charitable housing association. The rent we collect is used to pay for all the services and amenities that are needed to maintain our housing, to reinvest in building new homes for people in housing need and to support the communities our residents live in. Since April 2016, a government rule meant social landlords like Southern Housing Group had to reduce social rents by 1% every year. All the while, of course, our costs have been increasing each year.
Following the four years of rent reduction, in 2019 the government decided to allow small, capped increases (at 2.7%) in rent. We have done this and we informed residents in February that this would be happening, but we understand fully that our decision is sensitised by the pandemic facing us.
We have considered our policy carefully in the light of the current situation. Increasing the rent we charge is essential if we, as a social housing provider, want to ensure we remain in a viable financial position so that we can fulfil our responsibilities to keep our customers safe and secure and to provide more affordable homes for our residents and their families.
2. What are you doing to support residents during this time?
Housing associations across the UK are not-for-profit landlords to more than 6 million people. We are working closely with residents, local government, the NHS and others to respond to the coronavirus crisis. We are keeping residents safe and supported in their homes, keeping vital services running, and helping communities to respond.
We know that many residents will be worried about their income. So during this crisis we are committed to:
Keeping people secure at home. No one will be evicted from a Southern Housing Group home as a result of financial hardship caused by Coronavirus.
Helping people to get the support they need. We are helping residents to access benefits and other support to alleviate financial hardship. At this time of national crisis the Group has set aside an additional £250,000 fund to help support residents who are vulnerable and do not have a support network to access basic food and provisions. Members of staff across the Group have volunteered for extra duties to specifically help those in need or isolation, whether that be a daily phone call or to run an errand for them (following all safety guidelines effectively).
Acting compassionately and quickly where people are struggling. We are committed to working with our residents to understand how we can help them. This can include flexibility on collecting rent where that would make a difference.
If you are worried about your ability to pay your rent or have a change in circumstances, then please contact our Customer Accounts Team for help and advice on 01403 220440.
3. Will you reverse the increase?
The small 2.7% rise, the first in 4 years, will happen. Of course, we recognise that even though this is a fair and legal rise that housing associations across the country are implementing, it has been understandably overshadowed by the national emergency affecting everyone right now, but we remain a social landlord committed to supporting our residents and their communities and with some of the lowest rents in London.
4. Is the rent increase simply so you can make a bigger profit?
We do not have shareholders and so we do not pay dividends. Southern Housing Group does not make a profit as such, rather any operating surplus is reinvested into new and existing homes and in our communities. For example, keeping our estates clean, improving our existing homes, supporting our residents’ wellbeing and improving our open and green spaces. So the people who benefit collectively from the money we make are our residents and their communities.
5. What if the increase makes the rent unaffordable for residents?
Most residents will only experience a very modest rent increase and this follows four years of year on year decreases. However, Southern Housing Group is ready and willing to help anyone who is currently experiencing financial hardship or who is worried about how they will afford the increase. We are here to help. If you are concerned about being able to pay your rent, please get in contact with us early so that we can help. Southern Housing Group promises that anyone who falls behind on their rent as a result of the Coronavirus crisis will not lose their home as a result.
If you are worried about your ability to pay your rent or have a change in circumstances then please contact our Customer Accounts Team for help and advice on 01403 220440.
6. Surely, this is not a good time to put rents up?
The government confirmed the change in the rules last year, in 2019. Southern Housing Group notified our residents of the changes after that. We have considered the policy carefully in the light of the current national crisis. This is the first rent increase for four years and happened well before the COVID-19 pandemic and before the virus affected the UK. The government’s decision to allow housing associations to implement rent increases is the right thing to do to support the viability of housing associations which play such an important part in providing homes for people in housing need.
During this emergency, the government has implemented a programme of unprecedented support for individuals and businesses affected by loss or reduction of income. The fundamental structure of the government’s strategy for support to people is to ensure that they have the income to meet ordinary household expenses including their housing costs.
As a not for profit housing association we are making huge efforts to support our residents at this time. Southern Housing Group’s Customer Service Centre remains open and ready to take calls from any resident who needs our help. We have increased our support for residents at this time and Southern Housing Group promises that anyone who falls behind on their rent as a result of the Coronavirus crisis will not lose their home as a result.
If you are worried about your ability to pay your rent or have a change in circumstances then please contact our Customer Accounts Team for help and advice on 01403 220440.
7. How can you help residents when everyone is in ‘lockdown’?
Everyone at Southern Housing Group, from the chief executive to our frontline staff, is committed to providing as much help and support for our residents as possible, while still ensuring that they do not add to the risk of spreading the virus. This means we have staff on duty where they can maintain a safe social distance and we have teams of people working remotely from home or another safe location. Our call centre is up and running and our trained staff members are ready and waiting to help.
8. Will you evict residents who can’t keep up with rent payments?
We know that this is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone, and we will do all we can help anyone who is struggling. Southern Housing Group promises that anyone who falls behind on their rent as a result of this crisis will not lose their home. We will assist residents with benefits and provide money management advice. We are putting more money into these aspects of our services at the moment and any residents in difficulty should contact us and ask for this kind of help.
9. Why are rents going up at different times?
There are some variations in the tenancies that Southern Housing Group residents have. Some of our residents’ rents will go up in April and some will go up in July. These are based on when the tenancies started. This is often linked to when the resident’s home became part of Southern Housing Group. Regardless of when the rent increase will take effect, Southern Housing Group is ready and willing to assist any resident who needs our help. Southern Housing Group promises that anyone who falls behind on their rent as a result of this crisis will not lose their home.
