Changes to rent and other charges from April 2026
Our priority is to ensure residents live in safe and secure homes. Centered on supporting the most important services for our residents, your rent helps us to ensure your homes, estates and blocks are well maintained - a direct investment in the health and wellbeing of our communities.
The Council sets rent levels in line with social housing rents which are controlled by the government. The rent is set at the rate of inflation + 1%. The government has set the rent increase to be at 3.8% + 1%.
In line with government guidance, tenant service charges and independent living scheme charges are increasing by a maximum of 4.8% and if your charges include a heating charge this will decrease by 50% from 6 April 2026.
Providing essential services
We work hard to keep our costs low and are always looking to find savings and more efficient ways of working. However, external prices have been rising, particularly for essential building materials and commodities that we need in order to provide services.
What happens next
Your personal rent changes are being sent to you by letter. This letter will also confirm any changes to other charges included in the gross weekly rent associated with your home.
What you need to do
If you receive Housing Benefit you don’t need to do anything as we will inform the Housing Benefit department of the new rent charges. You will then get another letter towards the end of March informing you of your new amount.
If you are a Universal Credit (UC) claimant, please log into the Universal Credit portal to advise the Department of Work and Pensions of your new rent charges but do not do this until Monday 6 April 2026 when the new charges take effect. It is important that you complete this, otherwise the rent increase will not be reflected in the amount of Universal Credit you receive to help to cover your rent. Please advise the DWP that your new rent starts from 6 April 2026.
What to do if you’re worried
We understand that any increase in rent will have an impact on many residents who continue to be directly affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis and the huge rise in energy bills.
If you are worried about not being able to afford your rent or other essential living costs please talk to us. We will do all we can to help and support you.
You can email your Housing Manager or call us on 020 8915 2000 if you are having financial difficulties.
Get support:
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Sutton Council’s cost of living support
You can also contact Together for Sutton for a wide range of advice and help with benefits and tax credits, debt, housing and employment and health and social care needs.